CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Disinvestment Policy

Louise Ellman: To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will list the (a) companies and (b) countries to which the Church's policy on disinvestment is being applied.

Stuart Bell: It is not possible to list individual companies in which the Commissioners have agreed in the light of the ethical investment policy not to invest, as this information is commercially sensitive. There is no blanket policy on investing in, or excluding investment from, any specific country.

Ethical Investment Advisory Group

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what (a) advice, (b) guidance and (c) policies the Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group has (i) developed and (ii) published (A) excluding and (B) advising against investment in certain countries.

Stuart Bell: The Ethical Investment Advisory Group develops ethical investment policy on behalf of the three central Church investment bodies, as set out in the Church's Statement of Ethical Investment Policy. The policy proscribes investment in certain industrial or business activities from which the Church does not wish to benefit. There is no blanket policy on either investing in or excluding investment from any specific country.

Ethical Investment Advisory Group

Nick Gibb: To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the policy is of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England on investment in (a) China, (b) Cuba, (c) Iran, (d) Libya, (e) North Korea, (f) Sudan and (g) Syria.

Stuart Bell: There are no blanket policies relating to specific countries. However, the Church expects companies in which it invests to observe any national or international sanction regimes in place from time to time.

Ethical Investment Advisory Group

Nick Gibb: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will list the (a) companies, (b) countries, (c) markets and (d) sectors in which the Ethical Investment Advisory Group of the Church of England has a policy not to invest.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners' Statement of Ethical Investment Policy proscribes investment in tobacco, alcohol, pornography, armaments, and gambling. Companies whose activities breach the Church's policy are avoided but it is not possible to list them as this information is commercially sensitive. There is no blanket policy on either investing in, or excluding investment from, any specific country.

Investments

David Burrowes: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners which companies the Anglican Church has investments in; and which of those (a) trade with and (b) provide supplies for the Governments of (i) Zimbabwe, (ii) China, (iii) Burma, (iv) Saudi Arabia and (v) Iran.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners held investments in China valued at £1.2 million at the end of 2005. There are to my knowledge no investee companies which are wholly or mainly engaged in trading with any or all of the regimes listed by the hon. Gentleman but, in a globalised economy with large numbers of multinationals, many investee companies will do some business with at least some of these countries provided that there are no sanctions in place.

TRANSPORT

Alcohol-related Crime

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) of 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1707W, on alcohol-related crime, if he will break the figures down by constituency.

Derek Twigg: Data are not collected in this format. The information requested can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

British Transport Police

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed within the British Transport Police.

Derek Twigg: The number of people employed within the British Transport Police as at 8 February 2006 is 4,133. This figure includes police officers and civilian staff. This has increased from 3,757 in 2004–05.

British Transport Police

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total operating budget was of the British Transport Police in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The total operating budget for the British Transport Police from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 is £200,861,000.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used in making the decision not to include an underground siding for Crossrail trains; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The engineering of sidings within the central underground section of the proposed Crossrail route would be very difficult and costly, given the need to negotiate the piled foundations of buildings and changing gradients between stations. In operational terms the addition of sidings would not significantly improve existing reversing capability or the process for removing a failed train from the tunnel. The inclusion of sidings in the central section is therefore unlikely to deliver good value for money for the taxpayer and farepayer.

Cycling

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the Government's target outlined in the 10-Year Transport Plan to triple the number of cycling trips by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In the July 2004 White Paper "The Future of Transport" we announced that we were moving away from the "one size fits all" national target and would instead be encouraging local authorities to include sharper and more focussed targets within their local transport plans. These plans are due for submission by 31 March 2006.
	We are working closely with our advisory body, Cycling England, to increase participation in cycling through initiatives to improve the physical environment, raise standards of training, and improve safety.

Cycling

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what strategies he is pursuing to increase cycling in Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Local authorities are responsible for developing their own cycling strategies as part of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. New LTPs covering the period from 2006–11 are currently being finalised by highway authorities and are due to be submitted to the Department for Transport by the end of this month.
	In 2004 Peterborough was picked as one of the Department's "sustainable travel demonstration towns". An additional £3.24 million is being invested in the city over five years on measures to encourage more sustainable travel behaviour in the city. This includes an intensive programme of measures to promote cycling.

Rail Fares

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average increase in rail fares for each financial year between 2005–06 and 2012–13; and what is the total estimated increase over that period.

Derek Twigg: The average increase in rail fares is monitored annually by the Office of Rail Regulation. Future fares levels are not known and cannot be estimated.

Rail Safety (Hampshire)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1500W, on Rail Safety (Hampshire), if he will provide the names and addresses of the organisations which hold this information.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail holds the data for those level crossings in Hampshire for which they are the statutory undertaker. Their address is 40 Melton Street, London, NW1 2EE.
	Other crossing operators holding records of level crossings for Hampshire may include:
	Mid Hants Railway plc (The Watercress Line), The Railway Station, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JG.
	Port Director, ABP Southampton, Ocean Gate, Atlantic Way, Southampton, SO14 3QN.
	Marine Terminal Manager, Esso Petroleum Ltd. Esso Refinery, Fawley, SO45 1TX.
	Business Manager, EWS Railway Ltd. Infrastructure Services, Lakeside Business Park, Carolina Way, Doncaster DN4 5PN
	Alstom Wessex Train Services, Eastleigh Works, Campbell Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5ZB.
	Chief Executive's Office, HO DSDA, Defence Rail Agency (Marchwood and Ludgershall), Ploughley Road, Lower Arncott, Bicester, Oxon, OX25 2LD

TREASURY

British Exports (Europe)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of British exports to (a) the Eurozone area, (b) the pre-enlargement 15 EU member states and (c) the post-enlargement 25 EU member states in (i) 2005 and (ii) each quarter of 2005.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the total value of British exports to (a) the Eurozone area, (b) the pre-enlargement 15 EU member states and (c) the post-enlargement 25 EU member states in (i) 2005 and (ii) each quarter of 2005. (54956)
	The attached table shows exports on a Balance of Payments basis in £ million for goods and services for those quarters for which data are available. They are consistent with the UK Trade First Release published on 9 February 2006 and on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1119
	
		£ million
		
			  Exports of goods Exports of services 
			  Eurozone area EU15 EU25 Eurozone area EU15 EU25 
		
		
			 2005 106,936 113,706 118,497 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			
			 Q1 25,938 27,617 28,742 8,905 9,875 10,383 
			 Q2 26,282 27,953 29,143 8,624 9,571 10,056 
			 Q3 27,082 28,773 29,997 8,726 9,658 10,161 
			 Q4 27,634 29,363 30,615 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
		
	
	(1) Not available.

Child Trust Fund

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2006, Official Report, column 2416W, on child trust fund accounts, what estimate was made of the cost of providing the information; and whether he contacted Lancashire county council to obtain the figures.

Ivan Lewis: When I answered the hon. Member's earlier question I was advised that the cost of providing figures for Child Trust Fund accounts opened by HMRC for children looked after by Lancashire county council would have greatly exceeded the disproportionate cost threshold. Lancashire county council were not approached for this information as it was believed that they would not know how many Child Trust Fund accounts HMRC had opened for the children being looked after by them.
	It has subsequently come to light that it is possible to obtain this information. I now understand that by 20 February 2006, HM Revenue and Customs had opened 165 accounts for children looked after by Lancashire county council. I very much regret that it was not possible to provide this information in reply to the hon. Member's earlier question. Details of the total number of Child Trust Fund accounts opened by HMRC for all looked after children will be published along with other annual Child Trust Fund statistics later this year.

Civil Service Relocation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to review the relocation of Civil Service jobs from the South East of England; whether he plans to meet representatives from local authorities in the East of England to discuss this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government has accepted the recommendations of Sir Michael Lyons' Independent Review of Public Sector Relocation in 2004, and reflected these in the target to relocate 20,000 civil service posts out of London and the south east by 2010. Pre-Budget report 2005 reported that over 6,300 posts have already been moved out of London and the south east. Progress will continue to be closely monitored but the Government have no current plans to undertake a further review of civil service relocation.

Local Authority Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) gross domestic product and (b) GVA per capita was for each local authority area in (i) Kent, (ii) Surrey and (iii) Sussex in each of the last eight years; and what the equivalent average figures were for England in the same period.

Des Browne: The ONS does not produce gross domestic product data for local authorities. It does produce gross value added figures for counties and unitary authorities.
	The following tables show the latest total gross value added and gross value added per capita data for the unitary authorities in Kent, Surrey and Sussex for years 1996 to 2003. Further information is available on the ONS website at the following web address: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=7359
	
		Headline(2) gross value added (GVA)(3) per head by NUTS3 area at current basic prices 1996 to 2003 -- £ per head
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 United Kingdom(4) 11,699 12,347 13,056 13,622 14,290 14,944 15,691 16,485 
			 England 11,608 12,324 13,126 13,691 14,247 14,938 15,711 16,521 
			 South East 11,884 12,706 13,733 14,456 15,187 15,977 16,791 17,631 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 12,013 12,780 13,639 14,298 15,057 15,926 16,772 17,599 
			 Brighton and Hove 10,936 11,196 11,501 11,892 12,748 13,919 15,027 15,924 
			 East Sussex CC 9,134 9,390 9,475 9,694 9,949 10,273 10,614 11,014 
			 Surrey 13,412 14,709 16,343 17,345 18,427 19,490 20,455 21,454 
			 West Sussex 12,289 12,805 13,281 13,808 14,425 15,279 16,207 17,051 
			 Kent 9,483 9,965 10,531 10,949 11,348 11,817 12,364 12,973 
			 Medway 7,496 7,987 8,611 9,119 9,498 9,855 10,307 10,807 
			 Kent CC 9,853 10,332 10,891 11,292 11,695 12,185 12,749 13,377 
		
	
	(2) The headline GVA series for this publication have been calculated using a five-period moving average.
	(3) Estimates of workplace based GVA allocate income to the region in which commuters work.
	(4) The GVA for Extra-Regio comprises compensation of employees and gross operating surplus which cannot be assigned to regions.
	
		Headline(5) gross value added (GVA)(6)(5508870007) by NUTS3 area at current basic prices 1996 to 2003 -- £ million
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 680,477 720,028 763,443 799,387 841,505 883,412 930,796 981,732 
			 England 563,211 599,744 640,807 671,329 701,442 738,676 780,012 823,646 
			 South East 92,697 99,781 108,334 115,002 121,356 128,188 135,062 142,462 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 29,812 31,979 34,273 36,349 38,392 40,743 42,972 45,243 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,652 2,740 2,839 2,949 3,172 3,479 3,760 4,004 
			 East Sussex CC 4,385 4,527 4,595 4,744 4,892 5,066 5,249 5,464 
			 Surrey 13,827 15,281 16,999 18,312 19,477 20,663 21,709 22,839 
			 West Sussex 8,949 9,431 9,839 10,344 10,851 11,535 12,254 12,936 
			 Kent 14,594 15,399 16,344 17,115 17,851 18,682 19,660 20,756 
			 Medway 1,809 1,935 2,113 2,247 2,360 2,461 2,581 2,714 
			 Kent CC 12,785 13,464 14,232 14,868 15,492 16,221 17,079 18,043 
		
	
	(5) The headline GVA series for this publication have been calculated using a five-period moving average.
	(6) Estimates of workplace based GVA allocate income to the region in which commuters work.
	(7) Components may not sum to totals as a result of rounding.

National Insurance

Paul Keetch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he was informed that national insurance contributions records were not up-to-date;
	(2)  whether a deadline has been set for the Inland Revenue to have all records of national insurance contributions recorded up-to-date.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs has public service agreements targets to process 97.5 per cent. of returns by 31 December and 98 per cent. by 31 March. While the majority of records are up to date, the Department reported in November to Ministers that they had expectations of a missed 31 December target. And they have continued to provide progress reports thereafter. They have also kept employers and representative bodies informed of progress.

Nominal Business Investment

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of nominal business investment was in each (a) year and (b) quarter since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the level of nominal business investment since 1997. (54960)
	The information is shown in the attached tables. More information about business investment is available in the First Release, available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://wvw.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk= 171&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422
	
		UK nominal business investment: 1997–2005Annual data
		
			  Total business investment (£ billion) 
		
		
			 1997 92,874 
			 1998 107,688 
			 1999 110,172 
			 2000 112,902 
			 2001 111,902 
			 2002 110,166 
			 2003 106,813 
			 2004 110,657 
			 2005(8) 112,030 
		
	
	(8) provisional estimate.
	Note:
	At current prices.
	
		UK nominal business investment: 1997Q1–2005Q4 Quarterly data
		
			  Total business investment (£ billion) 
		
		
			 1997  
			 Q1 22,269 
			 Q2 22,874 
			 Q3 23,093 
			 Q4 24,638 
			   
			 1998  
			 Q1 26,216 
			 Q2 26,574 
			 Q3 27,408 
			 Q4 27,490 
			 1999  
			 Q1 27,206 
			 Q2 27,112 
			 Q3 28,110 
			 Q4 27,744 
			   
			 2000  
			 Ql 27,318 
			 Q2 27,456 
			 Q3 28,517 
			 Q4 29,611 
			   
			 2001  
			 Ql 28,595 
			 Q2 28,412 
			 Q3 28,083 
			 Q4 26,812 
			   
			 2002  
			 Ql 27,240 
			 Q2 27,408 
			 Q3 27,268 
			 Q4 28,250 
			   
			 2003  
			 Ql 26,395 
			 Q2 26,991 
			 Q3 26,219 
			 Q4 27,208 
			   
			 2004  
			 Ql 27,241 
			 Q2 27,450 
			 Q3 27,996 
			 Q4 27,970 
			   
			 2005  
			 Ql 27,828 
			 Q2 28,069 
			 Q3 28,272 
			 Q4(9) 27,861 
		
	
	(9) provisional estimate.
	Note:
	At current prices, seasonally adjusted.

Northern Ireland (Public Expenditure)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of public expenditure in Northern Ireland was in each of the past 30 years at today's prices; and how much was raised through taxation in Northern Ireland in each year.

Des Browne: Table 8.1 of the Treasury publication Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 (Cm 6521) details total identifiable expenditure by country and region for the years 1999–2000 to 2004–05. Information relating to earlier years can be obtained from previous editions of PESA.
	The Treasury does not produce estimates of the total amount of taxes raised by region or country.

Office for National Statistics

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last discussed with the Office for National Statistics the operation of its website; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I discuss a wide range of issues with the National Statistician and her staff. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings between Ministers and their officials.

Oil Prices

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which measures he uses for oil prices in making forecasts for the UK economy; and what the average price of oil has been according to that measure in each (a) month, (b) quarter and (c) year since 1997.

John Healey: The measure of the oil price used in Treasury forecasts is the Brent crude price. Brent crude dollar prices since 1997 are given in the following table.
	
		Brent crude prices
		
			  US$, per barrel 
		
		
			 Monthly averages  
			 31 January 1997 23.53 
			 28 February 1997 20.94 
			 31 March 1997 19.10 
			 30 April 1997 17.52 
			 30 May1997 19.03 
			 30 June 1997 17.64 
			 31 July 1997 18.43 
			 29 August 1997 18.57 
			 30 September 1997 18.30 
			 31 October 1997 19.89 
			 28 November 1997 19.17 
			 31 December 1997 17.18 
			 30 January 1998 15.22 
			 27 February 1998 14.05 
			 31 March1998 13.31 
			 30 April 1998 13.45 
			 29 May 1998 14.33 
			 30 June 1998 12.27 
			 31 July 1998 12.02 
			 31 August 1998 11.94 
			 30 September 1998 13.32 
			 30 October1998 12.77 
			 30 November 1998 11.12 
			 31 December 1998 9.82 
			 29 January 1999 11.13 
			 26 February 1999 10.25 
			 31 March 1999 12.52 
			 30 April 1999 15.32 
			 31 May 1999 15.24 
			 30 June 1999 15.86 
			 30 July 1999 19.08 
			 31 August 1999 20.34 
			 30 September 1999 22.45 
			 29 October 1999 22.00 
			 30 November 1999 24.68 
			 31 December 1999 25.51 
			 31 January 2000 25.40 
			 29 February 2000 27.85 
			 31 March 2000 27.32 
			 28 April 2000 22.69 
			 31 May 2000 27.72 
			 30 June 2000 29.77 
			 31 July 2000 28.72 
			 31 August 2000 30.24 
			 29 September 2000 32.87 
			 31 October 2000 30.94 
			 30 November 2000 32.58 
			 29 December 2000 25.09 
			 31 January 2001 25.61 
			 28 February 2001 27.54 
			 30 March 2001 24.33 
			 30 April 2001 25.64 
			 31 May 2001 28.49 
			 29 June 2001 27.85 
			 31 July 2001 24.54 
			 31 August 2001 25.72 
			 28 September 2001 25.68 
			 31 October 2001 20.39 
			 30 November 2001 18.97 
			 31 December 2001 18.65 
			 31 January 2002 19.41 
			 28 February 2002 20.28 
			 29 March 2002 23.70 
			 30 April 2002 25.73 
			 31 May 2002 25.37 
			 28 June 2002 24.06 
			 31 July 2002 25.81 
			 30 August 2002 26.76 
			 30 September 2002 28.40 
			 31 October 2002 27.61 
			 29 November 2002 24.26 
			 31 December 2002 28.47 
			 31 January 2003 31.30 
			 28 February 2003 32.81 
			 31 March 2003 30.28 
			 30 April 2003 24.92 
			 30 May 2003 25.80 
			 30 June 2003 27.61 
			 31 July 2003 28.52 
			 29 August 2003 29.84 
			 30 September 2003 26.93 
			 31 October 2003 29.56 
			 28 November 2003 28.87 
			 31 December 2003 29.98 
			 30 January 2004 31.34 
			 27 February 2004 30.86 
			 31 March 2004 33.80 
			 30 April 2004 33.51 
			 31 May 2004 37.59 
			 30 June 2004 35.24 
			 30 July 2004 38.45 
			 31 August 2004 42.69 
			 30 September 2004 43.42 
			 29 October 2004 49.83 
			 30 November 2004 43.22 
			 31 December 2004 39.60 
			 31 January 2005 44.30 
			 28 February 2005 45.52 
			 31 March 2005 53.00 
			 29 April 2005 51.79 
			 31 May 2005 48.74 
			 30 June 2005 54.39 
			 29 July 2005 57.68 
			 31 August 2005 64.19 
			 30 September 2005 62.96 
			 31 October 2005 58.78 
			 30 November 2005 55.42 
			 30 December 2005 57.10 
			 31 January 2006 63.20 
			   
			 Quarterly averages  
			 31 March 1997 21.19 
			 30 June 1997 18.06 
			 30 September 1997 18.43 
			 31 December 1997 18.75 
			 31 March 1998 14.19 
			 30 June 1998 13.35 
			 30 September 1998 12.43 
			 31 December 1998 11.24 
			 31 March 1999 11.30 
			 30 June 1999 15.48 
			 30 September 1999 20.62 
			 31 December 1999 24.06 
			 31 March 2000 26.85 
			 30 June 2000 26.73 
			 29 September 2000 30.61 
			 29 December 2000 29.54 
			 30 March 2001 25.83 
			 29 June 2001 27.33 
			 28 September 2001 25.32 
			 31 December 2001 19.34 
			 29 March 2002 21.13 
			 28 June 2002 25.05 
			 30 September 2002 26.99 
			 31 December 2002 26.78 
			 31 March 2003 31.46 
			 30 June 2003 26.11 
			 30 September 2003 28.43 
			 31 December 2003 29.47 
			 31 March 2004 32.00 
			 30 June 2004 35.45 
			 30 September 2004 41.52 
			 31 December 2004 44.22 
			 31 March 2005 47.61 
			 30 June 2005 51.64 
			 30 September 2005 61.61 
			 30 December 2005 57.10 
			   
			 Annual averages  
			 31 December 1997 19.11 
			 31 December 1998 12.80 
			 31 December 1999 17.87 
			 29 December 2000 28.43 
			 31 December 2001 24.45 
			 31 December 2002 24.99 
			 31 December 2003 28.87 
			 31 December 2004 38.30 
			 30 December 2005 54.49

Productivity Growth

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what productivity growth was in (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour worked in each (i) year and (ii) quarter since 1989.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what productivity growth was in (a) output per worker and (b) output per hour worked in each (i) year and (ii) quarter since 1989. (54961)
	The tables below show the growth of output per worker and output per hour for the UK whole economy for each year from 1989 to 2004. Table A shows the annual growth and Table B the quarterly growth.
	
		Table A: UK whole economy productivity annual growth,1989 to 2004
		
			  Annual growth rate (per cent.) 
			  Output per worker Output per hour 
		
		
			 1989 -0.8 — 
			 1990 0.3 — 
			 1991 2.0 — 
			 1992 3.7 — 
			 1993 3.6 — 
			 1994 3.7 3.0 
			 1995 1.5 1.4 
			 1996 1.7 1.7 
			 1997 1.4 1.4 
			 1998 2.4 2.6 
			 1999 1.7 2.2 
			 2000 2.9 3.8 
			 2001 1.1 1.0 
			 2002 0.9 1.8 
			 2003 1.5 2.0 
			 2004 2.0 2.4 
		
	
	Note:
	Output per hour figures start in the second quarter of 1992 and it is therefore not possible to calculate a measure for 1992 or previous.
	
		Table B: UK whole economy productivity quarterly growth,1989 to 2004
		
			  Per cent. change on previous year Per cent. change on previous quarter 
			 Quarter Output per worker Output per hour Output per worker Output per hour 
		
		
			 1989 Q1 -0.5 — -0.8 — 
			 1989 Q2 -0.3 — -0.2 — 
			 1989 Q3 -1.1 — -0.2 — 
			 1989 Q4 -1.1 — 0.0 — 
			 1990 Q1 0.3 — 0.6 — 
			 1990 Q2 0.6 — 0.2 — 
			 1990 Q3 0.0 — -0.8 — 
			 1990 Q4 0.3 — 0.2 — 
			 1991 Q1 0.5 — 0.9 — 
			 1991 Q2 1.2 — 0.9 — 
			 1991 Q3 2.9 — 0.8 — 
			 1991 Q4 3.5 — 0.9 — 
			 1992 Q1 3.4 — 0.8 — 
			 1992 Q2 3.7 — 1.2 — 
			 1992 Q3 3.8 — 0.9 1.3 
			 1992 Q4 4.0 — 1.2 1.3 
			 1993 Q1 4.2 — 0.9 0.5 
			 1993 Q2 3.6 4.1 0.6 0.9 
			 1993 Q3 3.6 3.6 0.9 0.9 
			 1993 Q4 3.1 3.0 0.7 0.7 
			 1994 Q1 3.2 3.2 1.0 0.7 
			 1994 Q2 3.9 3.5 1.2 1.2 
			 1994 Q3 3.8 2.9 0.8 0.4 
			 1994 Q4 3.8 2.4 0.7 0.1 
			 1995 Q1 2.7 2.0 0.0 0.3 
			 1995 Q2 1.6 1.1 0.1 0.3 
			 1995 Q3 1.1 1.2 0.2 0.5 
			 1995 Q4 0.7 1.4 0.3 0.3 
			 1996 Q1 1.5 1.9 0.8 0.8 
			 1996 Q2 1.3 1.2 0.0 -0.4 
			 1996 Q3 1.7 1.5 0.6 0.8 
			 1996 Q4 2.3 2.4 0.9 1.2 
			 1997 Q1 1.3 1.1 -0.2 -0.5 
			 1997 Q2 1.4 1.8 0.1 0.3 
			 1997 Q3 1.4 1.5 0.5 0.4 
			 1997 Q4 1.3 1.2 0.9 0.9 
			 1998 Q1 2.1 2.1 0.6 0.5 
			 1998 Q2 2.5 2.4 0.5 0.6 
			 1998 Q3 2.6 2.7 0.6 0.7 
			 1998 Q4 2.2 3.1 0.5 1.3 
			 1999 Q1 1.8 2.6 0.1 0.0 
			 1999 Q2 1.7 2.4 0.4 0.4 
			 1999 Q3 1.5 2.1 0.5 0.5 
			 1999 Q4 1.9 1.8 0.9 0.9 
			 2000 Q1 3.0 4.7 1.2 2.8 
			 2000 Q2 3.0 3.8 0.4 -0.4 
			 2000 Q3 3.0 4.1 0.5 0.8 
			 2000 Q4 2.5 2.8 0.4 -0.4 
			 2001 Q1 1.6 0.7 0.3 0.7 
			 2001 Q2 1.3 1.0 0.1 -0.2 
			 2001 Q3 0.9 0.6 0.2 0.4 
			 2001 Q4 0.7 1.7 0.2 0.7 
			 2002 Q1 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.4 
			 2002 Q2 0.7 2.4 0.0 0.8 
			 2002 Q3 1.2 1.9 0.6 0.0 
			 2002 Q4 0.8 1.5 -0.2 0.3 
			 2003 Q1 1.1 1.8 0.7 0.8 
			 2003 Q2 1.1 1.0 0.0 0.0 
			 2003 Q3 1.4 2.1 0.9 1.0 
			 2003 Q4 2.5 3.3 0.9 1.5 
			 2004 Q1 2.1 2.6 0.2 0.2 
			 2004 Q2 2.8 3.6 0.7 0.9 
			 2004 Q3 2.0 2.7 0.1 0.1 
			 2004 Q4 1.2 0.9 0.1 -0.3 
			 2005 Q1 0.9 0.6 -0.1 -0.1 
			 2005 Q2 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 
			 2005 Q3 0.4 0.0 0.0 -0.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Output per hour figures start in the second quarter of 1992 and it is therefore not possible to calculate a measure for 1992 or previous.

Property Tax (Added Value)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government expects to make an announcement in respect of developing a new tax for capturing the uplift in value created by the granting of planning permission and public investment in infrastructure.

John Healey: The Government's consultation on the proposed Planning-gain Supplement ended on 27 February 2006. Responses to the consultation will be considered carefully and further announcements made in due course.

Public Spending

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of public spending in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland for future years.

Des Browne: The 2004 Spending Review set out spending settlements for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the UK Government departments up to and including 2007–08. Public spending beyond that period is matter for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Public Spending

Alan Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the gross domestic product (GDP), (b) the level of public spending and (c) public spending as a share of GDP was in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) each region of England in each year since 1992–93.

Des Browne: Information on total identifiable expenditure for each region of England and for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is set out in the HM Treasury publication, "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" (PESA) 2005, April 2005 (Cm 6521). This provides outturn data from 1999–2000 to 2003–04. Previous editions of PESA provide outturn data for years prior to 1999–2000. "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 1998–99", April 1998 (Cm 3901) provides outturn data from 1992–93.
	The Office of National Statistics provides data on Gross Value Added (GVA), the Government's preferred measure of regional economic output, for each region and country of the UK on its website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme economy/NUTS1_Tables_1–8.xls

Security Industry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution the security industry makes to the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what contribution the security industry makes to the UK economy. (54940)
	There are published statistics for industry Group 74.6 of the Standard Industrial Classification, 2003 which covers both investigation and security activities. The most recent figures available relate to 2004.
	The turnover of this sector of the UK economy, which consists of almost 6,000 businesses, was valued at £5.1 billion. Their approximate gross value added to the economy was £3.8 billion.

Survey Data

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the disaggregated micro-data from the (a) Labour Force Survey, (b) New Earnings Survey and (c) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 3 March 2006
	The National Statistician, has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the publication of the disaggregated micro-data from the (a) Labour Force Survey, (b) New Earnings Survey and (c) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. I am replying in her absence. (54736)
	ONS places great importance on maintaining confidentiality of responses to its surveys, to safeguard the trust of data suppliers and so ensure that good quality data continues to be available to users. Whilst the demand for more detailed and better quality data is growing, respondents and society at large are increasingly concerned about confidentiality protection. ONS must be responsive to user needs and concerns and safeguard trust in the ONS and our reputation for quality service. The National Statistics Code of Practice, and its associated protocols is the regulatory framework under which the ONS operates. More detail can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/national_statistics/cop/default.asp.
	On the specific surveys you mention;
	1. Labour Force Survey (LFS). LFS data is provided voluntarily by private individuals under a guarantee of confidentiality and no statistics can be published that are likely to identify individuals unless specifically agreed with them. Specifically, the Data Protection Act 1998 protects personal data relating to living individuals, and identifiable records are subject to a Common Law duty of confidence.
	2. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). ASHE, and its predecessor the New Earnings Survey, are carried out under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. This act prohibits the publication of disaggregated data. The records of individual employees collected in the ASHE survey are personal data and subject to the Data Protection Act and the duty of confidence.
	I hope this explains why ONS are not able to publish these disaggregated data in a form which alone, or in combination with any other information reasonably available, could allow for the identification of individuals or the disclosure of information relating to them.
	It may interest you to know that anonymised disaggregated data from the LFS is available under license for statistical and research uses only through the UK Data Archive at Essex University.

Unit Wage Costs

Adam Holloway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in unit wage costs was in each (a) year and (b) quarter since 1989.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 3 March 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the change in unit wage costs was in each (a) year (b) quarter since 1989. (54958)
	The tables below show the growth of unit wage costs for the UK whole economy for each year from 1989 to 2004. Table A shows the annual growth and Table B the quarterly growth.
	
		Table A: UK whole economy unit wage costs annual growth,1989 to 2004
		
			  Annual growth rate (per cent.) 
		
		
			 1989 10.4 
			 1990 9.4 
			 1991 6.4 
			 1992 1.8 
			 1993 0.0 
			 1994 -0.8 
			 1995 1.5 
			 1996 0.8 
			 1997 2.7 
			 1998 3.7 
			 1999 2.8 
			 2000 2.7 
			 2001 3.8 
			 2002 2.2 
			 2003 1.7 
			 2004 1.7 
		
	
	
		Table B: UK whole economy unit wage costs quarterly growth, 1989 to 2004
		
			  Quarter Per cent. change on previous year Per cent. change on previous quarter 
		
		
			 1989   
			 Q1 9.5 2.5 
			 Q2 10.1 2.7 
			 Q3 10.9 2.5 
			 Q4 11.0 2.8 
			
			 1990   
			 Q1 10.5 2.0 
			 Q2 9.8 2.1 
			 Q3 9.7 2.4 
			 Q4 7.8 1.1 
			
			 1991   
			 Q1 7.5 1.7 
			 Q2 6.7 1.3 
			 Q3 6.0 1.7 
			 Q4 5.7 0.8 
			 1992   
			 Q1 4.5 0.6 
			 Q2 2.9 -0.3 
			 Q3 0.4 -0.7 
			 Q4 -0.6 -0.2 
			
			 1993   
			 Q1 -1.9 -0.6 
			 Q2 0.1 1.7 
			 Q3 0.9 0.1 
			 Q4 0.9 -0.2 
			
			 1994   
			 Q1 1.3 -0.2 
			 Q2 -1.8 -1.4 
			 Q3 -1.4 0.5 
			 Q4 -1.2 0.0 
			
			 1995   
			 Q1 0.1 1.1 
			 Q2 2.0 0.4 
			 Q3 1.5 0.0 
			 Q4 2.3 0.8 
			
			 1996   
			 Q1 0.2 -1.0 
			 Q2 0.9 1.1 
			 Q3 1.7 0.8 
			 Q4 0.3 -0.6 
			
			 1997   
			 Q1 2.4 1.0 
			 Q2 2.2 0.9 
			 Q3 2.4 1.1 
			 Q4 3.8 0.8 
			
			 1998   
			 Q1 3.9 1.1 
			 Q2 4.2 1.1 
			 Q3 3.5 0.4 
			 Q4 3.3 0.6 
			
			 1999   
			 Q1 3.5 1.3 
			 Q2 2.7 0.3 
			 Q3 2.7 0.5 
			 Q4 2.5 0.4 
			
			 2000   
			 Q1 1.6 0.4 
			 Q2 2.0 0.7 
			 Q3 3.1 1.5 
			 Q4 4.0 1.3 
			
			 2001   
			 Q1 5.0 1.4 
			 Q2 4.5 0.2 
			 Q3 3.4 0.5 
			 Q4 2.4 0.3 
			
			 2002   
			 Q1 1.6 0.7 
			 Q2 2.4 0.9 
			 Q3 2.2 0.3 
			 Q4 2.6 0.7 
			
			 2003   
			 Q1 1.9 0.0 
			 Q2 1.7 0.7 
			 Q3 2.1 0.7 
			 Q4 1.0 -0.5 
			 2004   
			 Q1 1.7 0.7 
			 Q2 1.4 0.4 
			 Q3 1.1 0.4 
			 Q4 2.8 1.3 
			
			 2005   
			 Q1 3.2 1.1 
			 Q2 3.0 0.2 
			 Q3 3.0 0.4

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Broadband (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that broadband will be available to all new houses built in Milton Keynes.

Alun Michael: Virtually all the exchanges in the UK have been enabled for broadband, which means 99.7 per cent. of all households have access to broadband.
	Building upon the high availability and high demand for broadband, DTI and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are working with the industry to develop guidance to ensure that new builds are "broadband ready", thereby minimising disruption at a later stage. We expect the guidance to be ready for publication later this year.

Civil Service (Workforce Reductions)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set for (a) UK Trade and Investment and (b) the Office of Fair Trading to achieve (i) efficiency savings and (ii) Civil Service workforce reductions.

Ian Pearson: UK Trade & Investment negotiated efficiency savings targets with the Treasury, as part of its 2004 Spending Review settlement. Under this settlement, these targets are £5.8 million for 2005–06; £18.0 million for 2006–07; and £35 million for 2007–08.
	By 31 March 2008, UK Trade & Investment plans to reduce the number of posts in its London and Glasgow headquarters' offices by 200.
	Office of Fair Trading agreed to achieve £1.5 million efficiency savings in 2005–06 and £2.5 million in each of 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	By 31 March 2008, Office of Fair Trading plans to reduce the number of posts for those activities it carried out at April 2004, by 30.

Construction Industry (Fraud)

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the level of fraud involving use of fake construction skill cards; and what action is being taken to combat such fraud.

Alun Michael: The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) was launched in 1995 by the construction industry to bring different occupational schemes together under one set of standards with one easily recognisable 'badge'. It covers over 220 occupations and currently has approximately 1 million cardholders.
	The key aims of the scheme is to set an industry standard for the quality of work onsite, to improve industry health and safety and to encourage construction employers to use competent workers. It provides employers and clients with proof that cardholders have the skills required for their stated occupation and have health and safety awareness. The scheme is owned and managed by CSCS Ltd, a company representing construction employers, trade unions and clients. Government has no responsibility for the scheme and its decision-making. These responsibilities fall within the remit of the CSCS Ltd Board.
	The CSCS Ltd and the Construction Industry Training Board have jointly responded to incidents of fraud and called on the industry to help them to police the scheme.

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made by (a) the Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies of compliance with digital switchover Certification Mark scheme rules; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Department of Trade and Industry developed the digital switchover certification mark scheme in conjunction with key stakeholders, including retailers, manufacturers, broadcasters and consumer bodies. Key industry bodies are aware of the scheme's requirements, which are clearly set out in their licence agreements and on a public website.
	As part of a process of monitoring compliance with the terms of the digital switchover certification mark licence agreements, the Department of Trade and Industry commissioned a programme of mystery shopping in early 2005 during the first year of the scheme. This surveyed approximately 10 per cent. of retail licensees across the country. It did not identify any examples of deliberate attempts by retailers to mislead the public, but did show there was room for improvement in the provision of information. Results were used to inform developments for the second year of the scheme. In addition, several retailers and manufacturers have been contacted directly where the certification mark was being used incorrectly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has appointed Digital UK, the independent not-for-profit organisation that is coordinating digital switchover, to administer and supervise key aspects of the second year of the scheme. Digital UK is currently developing its own programme of compliance monitoring.

Engineering Industry

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on support for the British engineering industry.

Alun Michael: The Government is seeking to provide the right macroeconomic conditions and support to ensure that UK engineering companies can compete successfully in world markets. We are working closely with the Engineering Employers Federation and other key stakeholders to further develop the support we are providing through the Manufacturing Strategy and working with the member of the Manufacturing Forum, which I co-chair with Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of GKN. DTI is also working closely with the Royal Academy of Engineering and other leading science, engineering and technology institutions to support the "Shape the Future" campaign which promotes science, engineering and technology to young people as a career option.

EU Services Directive

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the proposed EU directive on services, with particular reference to the country of origin principle.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry meets regularly with his EU counterparts and has had discussions on the proposed EU Services Directive as well as on other issues. Ministers will discuss the Services Directive during the Competitiveness Council on 13 March, and conversations between DTI Ministers and their counterparts will take place in preparation for that Council.

Independent Retailers

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential future role of small independent retailers in the economy.

Alun Michael: DTI considers the role of small independent retailers as a matter of course in its work but has not undertaken a specific piece of work on the future role of small independent retailers as such. The focus of the Department's research has been on the key factors affecting the economic performance of the retail sector as a whole.
	When looking at particular regulatory (or deregulatory) proposals we look at the impact on small business or small retailers when relevant as part of that work.
	In our analysis of the sector, the role of small retailers does feature. For instance, one of the recommendations of a report that we commissioned to assess the productivity of the retail sector was to look at the development of a small number of efficiency metrics of relevance for smaller retailers. Following this recommendation we consulted with several trade associations and some retailers, and found no consensus over what those benchmarks should be. We also concluded that if there was any value in taking this work forward, it needs to be led by the industry.
	In addition the DTI recognises that independent retailers are important to communities so, we ensure that representative bodies of smaller retailers are involved with our key retail fora: Retail Policy Forum (better regulation); Retail Innovation Group (identification and exploitation of good practice); and have been invited to be part of the steering group for the fledgling regional retail strategy that is exploring good practice in working with retail at regional/local level.

Internet Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice his Department issues on internet service providers and the right to privacy of individuals using internet services including search engines.

Alun Michael: The DTI website provides information on choosing an internet service provider (http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/information_security/pdfs/Choose_ISP.pdf), and information about the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/ecommunications/directive_on_privacy_electronic_ communications_200258ec.html). The Government is a supporter of the Get Safe Online initiative (http://www.getsafeonline.org/). This provides information on how to protect against internet threats, including advice on how to protect privacy online. Our advice on choosing an Internet Service Provider is tailored towards small business, but most points will also apply to individuals. The advice focuses on encouraging people to understand their requirements, and not to just choose on a technical basis. The information we provide about the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 focuses on the related European Directive and the consultation about and implementation of the regulations. The Information Commissioner's Office provides guidance to organisations and individuals regarding this legislation and the Data Protection Act. Information regarding the rights of individuals under the Data Protection Act and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations is available from the Information Commissioner's Office website (http://www.ico.gov.uk/).

Poland (Exporters)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the five largest British exporters to Poland in 2004–05.

Ian Pearson: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the Department does not publish this type of information about where individual companies operate.

Post Offices

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to prevent the closure of branch post offices; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: In 2003 the Government introduced an annual subsidy of £150 million to help maintain the rural post office network. On 24 February we secured European Commission approval for an extension of the subsidy to 2008. Up to £25 million of the Government's subsidy package is available to Post Office Ltd to finance pilot activity to test modern, innovative ways of delivering services in rural areas.
	The Government's requirement for Post Office Ltd to prevent avoidable sub-post office closures in rural areas currently runs until the end of March 2006 and a further announcement will be made shortly.

Post Offices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) nature, (b) duration and (c) location is of pilot studies to (i) assist with the long-term viability of post offices and (ii) assess the viability of remote post office branches after the end of the Post Office card account.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 2 March 2006
	Post Office Ltd. is conducting trials of modern, innovative ways of delivering post office services to rural communities. The trials will operate for 12 months and are focused on a 'Core and Outreach' approach. There are four types of Outreach service being piloted:
	Hosted (fixed or portable)—a full service offer by the sub-postmaster/mistress (SPM) or a fully trained employee;
	Partner Service—a basic service (e.g. access to cash, bill payment, stamps, weighing and leaving parcels) provided by another retailer alongside their main business, generally a petrol station or pub. The Core SPM maintains a remote overview and provides the site with the products required.
	Home Service—a full service is offered via telephone or internet ordering. The SPM then arranges to deliver, in person or by post, the products requested.
	Mobile—a full service is offered by a mobile post office visiting a number of locations at set times.
	I have asked Post Office Ltd. to publish a report detailing findings on its pilot activity and expect them to do so shortly.
	The locations of the 'Core and Outreach' pilots are detailed in the following table.
	
		Location of Post Office Ltd. 'Core and Outreach' pilot activity
		
			 Core site Outreach site Type of pilot activity 
		
		
			 Castle Douglas (Dumfries and Galloway) Crocketford Portable Hosted 
			  Haugh of Urr Portable Hosted 
			  Twynholm Portable Hosted 
			 Leven (Fife) Windygates Fixed Hosted 
			  Colinsburgh Portable Hosted 
			 Wick (Sutherland) Reiss Mobile 
			  Keiss Mobile 
			  Auchergill Mobile 
			  Mey Mobile 
			  Thrumster Mobile 
			 Pembroke (Pembrokeshire) Castlemartin Home Service (telephone only) 
			  Hundleton Home Service (telephone only) 
			  St. Florence Portable Hosted 
			 Llandeilo (Carmarthenshire) Carmel Portable Hosted 
			  Ffairfach Portable Hosted 
			  Llanarthney Portable Hosted 
			 Rhydlewis (Ceredigion) Abermeurig Mobile 
			  Joppa Mobile 
			  Blaenanerch Mobile 
			  Talsarn Mobile 
			  Cribyn Mobile 
			 Rathfriland (County Down) Kilcoo Fixed Hosted 
			  Mays Corner Fixed Hosted 
			  Ballinaskeagh Fixed Hosted/Partner Service 
			 Enniskillen (County Fermanagh) Monea Mobile 
			  Lack Mobile 
			 Aldeburgh (Suffolk) Campsea Ash Home Service 
			  Middleton Home Service 
			  Tunstall Home Service 
			  Kettleburgh Home Service 
			  Brandston Home Service 
			  Snape Portable Hosted 
			 Tuxford (Nottinghamshire) Norwell Home Service/Portable Hosted 
			  East Markham Home Service/Portable Hosted 
			  Kirton Home Service 
			 Burscough Bridge (Lancashire) Bescar Lane Portable Hosted 
			  Haskayne Partner Service 
			 Syston (Leicestershire) Rearsby Portable Hosted 
			 Bedale (North Yorkshire) Crakehall Portable Hosted/Partner 
			  Leeming Bar Portable Hosted 
			  North Stainley Portable Hosted 
			 Swaffham (Norfolk) Sporle Portable Hosted 
			 Henfield (Sussex) Bolney Fixed Hosted 
			 Glastonbury (Somerset) Wookey Fixed Hosted 
			  Godney Home Service (telephone only) 
			 Okehampton (Devon) Sticklepath Portable Hosted 
			 Appleby Brampton Home Service 
			  Blencarn Home Service 
			 Mynytho (Gwynedd) Abererch Road Mobile 
			  Borth Y Gest Mobile 
			  Bwlchtocyn Mobile 
			  Clynnogfawr Mobile 
			  Minffordd Mobile 
			  Nasareth Mobile 
			 Ashford Road (Maidstone) Harrietsham Fixed Hosted 
			  Chart Sutton Fixed Hosted 
			  East Farleigh Fixed Hosted 
			 Tow Law Fir Tree Mobile 
			  Witton Park Mobile 
			  Escombe Mobile 
			  Whitton Le Wear Mobile 
			  Toronto Mobile 
			  Cornsay Colliery Mobile

Post Offices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether alternative funding will be put in place to ensure the continuation of Post Office banking in remote communities after the withdrawal of Post Office card accounts.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 2 March 2006
	I understand that Post Office Ltd. is currently developing new banking and savings products which might be suitable for existing Post Office card account customers, in addition to the 25 or so bank accounts that can already be accessed at post offices. The company is also piloting innovative ways of delivering its products and services to remote communities in a sustainable way. It is too early to speculate on the need for any alternative funding.

Post Offices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices in Ogmore constituency receive rural support funding.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 1 March 2006
	The Government's annual £150 million funding is used to underpin the fixed element of sub-postmaster remuneration, known as their 'Assigned Office Payment' and to meet the costs incurred by Post Office Ltd. in supporting the non-commercial part of the rural network, such as IT costs, cash delivery arrangements, training and marketing.
	How this funding is used to benefit rural post offices in Ogmore constituency is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook, the managing director, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) Crown post offices and (b) sub-post offices there were in each local authority area in Hampshire in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) the latest period for which figures are available; how many he expects there to be by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. Alan Cook, the managing director, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the European Commission has cleared the payment of subsidies to Post Offices Limited for the forthcoming financial year; and when an application for clearance was made to the Commission.

Barry Gardiner: The European Commission gave state aid clearance on 24 February to the Government's £300 million support package to the rural post office network for the two years from April 2006 to March 2008. The application for state aid clearance was submitted to the Commission in March 2005.

Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, (S.I. 2003, No. 2426); and if he will make a statement on the operation of the Regulations;
	(2)  how many complaints were made to the Information Commissioner about the enforcement of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, (S.1.2003, No. 2426) in the last year for which information is available.

Alun Michael: Statistics concerning complaints, prosecutions and convictions are a matter for the Information Commissioner, who has responsibility for the operation of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations.

Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) individuals, (b) internet companies, (c) companies and (d) Government departments responded to his Department's consultation on the EC Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications; if he will list them; if he will place a copy of each response in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The public consultation on how to implement the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications closed on 19 June 2003. More than 420 responses were received. A list of non government respondees, excluding private individuals in order to protect their privacy, has been published on the DTI website which gives details of how to obtain hard copies of any non confidential responses.

Retail Business

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retail businesses have been closed in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: DTI data on the number of retail business 1 closures in the UK from 1997 to 2004, based solely on VAT de-registrations, are shown in the following table.
	1 Standard Industrial Classification 52, retail trade (except of motor vehicles), repair of personal and household goods.
	
		VAT de-registrations 1997–2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 22,225 
			 1998 22,225 
			 1999 21,645 
			 2000 21,455 
			 2001 20,495 
			 2002 19,785 
			 2003 20,565 
			 2004 20,930 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. In the retail sector, 63 per cent. of enterprises (200,000 out of 320,000) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.

UK Trade and Investment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the efficiency savings targets for UK Trade and Investment are to be cashable; and under what budget headings these cashable efficiency savings will be re-spent.

Ian Pearson: UK Trade and Investment's efficiency savings target for the period 2005–06 to 2007–08 is £35 million. £5.8 million is required to be found in the first year for redeployment within the organisation.
	The first year savings are being re-deployed to achieve better delivery of UK Trade and Investment services. The component relating to UK Trade and Investment's programme funding (2.1 million) is improving service delivery in the English regions. The component relating to UK Trade and Investment's admin funding from the Department of Trade and Industry (£1.6 million) is enhancing inward investment activities. The remainder (£2.1 million), which relates to admin funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is strengthening UK Trade and Investment's presence in overseas markets that are priorities for UK businesses.

Unsolicited e-mail

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords and (c) members of the public in favour of legislation to make it a criminal offence to send unsolicited commercial e-mail unless the consent of the recipient has been gained; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords and (c) members of the public about spam e-mails; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I receive representations from a variety of sources concerning a wide range of communications issues. Information about these representations is not maintained in the form requested, but there has certainly been a downwards trend in the number of representations since the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (EC Directive) 2003 were introduced on 11 December 2003.

Unsolicited e-mail

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to discourage spam e-mails; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it a criminal offence to send unsolicited commercial e-mail unless the consent of the recipient has been gained; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with (i) Microsoft and (ii) internet providers on restricting spam e-mail; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what support his Department is providing to the Spamhaus project; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what information is provided to his Department to members of the public wishing to control the amount of spam e-mail received by them; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of spam e-mails received in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what advice his Department offers to members of the public about how to complain about spam e-mails; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Government introduced statutory controls on spam by means of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which entered into force on 11 December 2003. The Regulations provide a first line of defence against spam where the recipient has no knowledge of the advertiser or the products being marketed. The regulations require that unsolicited spam must not be sent to an individual subscriber unless prior permission has been obtained or unless there is a previous relationship between the parties. The regulations can be enforced against an offending company or individual anywhere in the European Union (EU). There is regular contact between my Department, the Department of Constitutional Affairs and the Information Commissioner's Office regarding operation of these regulations.
	The Government recognises the source of the problem is often outside our borders and has therefore promoted international co-operation initiatives such as the London Action Plan, and plays a major role in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Anti Spam Task Force, which is the lead intergovernmental organisation dealing with spam. Additionally on 2 July 2004 a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, which aims to reduce further the problem by committing enforcement authorities, which for the UK is the Information Commissioner's Office and the Office of Fair Trading, to work together to investigate those sending spam.
	The end user has a role to play in taking action to avoid being a target for those sending spam, as well as taking action to filter spam. Information has been made available to the public and to business by my Department, the Information Commissioner's Office, the Office of Fair Trading as well as a number of sites provided by service and software providers. These messages have been reinforced by the Get Safe Online initiative that launched on 27 October 2005. This is an initiative between Government and Industry to help individuals and businesses protect themselves against internet threats, including spam. The Government do not measure the amount of spam sent to UK businesses and private citizens.
	Officials engage with Microsoft and the Internet Service Providers on a regular basis, in particular as part of the UK based Anti Spam Working Group, which DTI leads. Ministers have not had contact with Microsoft or Internet Service Providers specific to this matter. Spamhaus which is an active and valued member of the Anti Spam Working Group, is an industry-led initiative and does not receive funding from DTI. DTI advises members of the public who wish to complain about spam to contact the Information Commissioner who is responsible for the enforcement of the Regulations. A breach of an enforcement notice is a criminal offence subject to a fine of up to 5000 in a magistrate's court.
	Our response to the problem of spam is developing. I have taken careful note of the views of the Information Commissioner's Office on the powers available to him, and Government is actively considering whether to revise the relevant legislation. I shall shortly meet the Information Commissioner to discuss this, while DTI officials will continue a dialogue with Internet Service Providers regarding steps that can be taken to reduce spam. We will also continue our efforts to achieve greater international co-operation.

Unsolicited e-mail

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what (a) representations and (b) complaints he has received on spam e-mails.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to his question numbers 52412 and 52416.

Uranium

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the natural sources of uranium, broken down by country; and what the expected life is of that supply.

Malcolm Wicks: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency has published a report examining uranium production—"Uranium 2003: Resources, Production and Demand"—which includes a list of sources of uranium by country. This list will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Please refer to the report for full reporting methodology.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Care Support Services

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average age of children leaving care was in (a) Wakefield district and (b) Normanton constituency in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the average age of children who ceased to be looked after by Wakefield metropolitan borough council is shown below. This information is not collected centrally at district or constituency level.
	
		Children who ceased to be looked after during the years ending 31 March 2004 to 2005 by average age at end of latest period of care—Wakefield and England -- Number
		
			  2003–04 2004–05(10) 
		
		
			 Wakefield   
			 All ages—at end of stay (yr:mth) 10:08 10:10 
			 All ages—number who ceased to be looked after(11) 190 170 
			 Age 16 and over—average age at end of stay (yr:mth) 17:03 17:04 
			 Age 16 and over—number who ceased to be looked after(11) 60 50 
			
			 England   
			 All ages—average age at end of stay (yr:mth) 10:07 10:09 
			 All ages—number who ceased to be looked after(12) 25,800 25,600 
			 Age 16 and over—average age at end of stay (yr:mth) 17:06 17:06 
			 Age 16 and over—number who ceased to be looked after(12) 6,800 7,500 
		
	
	(10) Data for 2004–05 are provisional
	(11) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	(12) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100
	Source:
	DfES

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places have (a) opened and (b) closed since 2003.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The numbers of child care places opening and closing since 2003, drawn from Ofsted's registration data, for England are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Places opening Places closing Net growth 
		
		
			 April 2003–March 2004 238,596 128,350 110,246 
			 April 2004–March 2005 254,126 187,245 66,881 
			 April 2005–September 2005 113,703 73,460 40,243

Employer Training Pilots

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the companies who participated in the employer training pilots in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 employed (i) under 50 staff, (ii) between 50 and 249 staff and (iii) 250 or more staff; and how many were in the (A) public and (B) private sector.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department, but is collected by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his response will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 1 March 2006
	I am writing in response to your recent parliamentary question which has been referred to me, concerning employer participation in the Employer Training Pilot in 2004–05 and 2005–06.
	The Employer Training Pilot supports employers by providing assistance and funding to train lower skilled employees, so they may achieve basic skills and NVQ Level 2 qualifications in a variety of vocational areas. The numbers of participating employers for each calendar year, broken down into each size band, is shown in the following table.
	I trust this is helpful.
	
		
			  Employer size band 
			  1 to 49 50 to 249 250 or greater Total 
		
		
			 2004 
			 Private Sector 5,940 1,476 932 8,348 
			 Public Sector 610 191 291 1,092 
			 Not specified 259 48 32 339 
			 Total 6,809 1,715 1,255 9,779 
			  
			 2005 
			 Private Sector 6,899 1,782 1,370 10,051 
			 Public Sector 887 231 436 1,554 
			 Not specified 287 64 37 388 
			 Total 8,073 2,077 1,843 11,993

Higher Education (East Lancashire)

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the future higher education needs of East Lancashire; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I recently visited East Lancashire and listened to a progress report from the Higher Education East Lancashire (HEEL) group. Further development of higher education provision in East Lancashire would clearly be welcome, and is consistent with Government policy. Any public funding for this development would come through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and I understand that the HEEL group is involving HEFCE in its discussions.

Hillingdon Education Authority

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the additional costs falling upon Hillingdon education authority from Heathrow airport.

Jacqui Smith: Hillingdon does not receive additional funding specifically because Heathrow airport is in its local education authority area.
	Nevertheless, the current revenue funding formula recognises that Hillingdon has well above the average numbers of children from ethnic minority families and has well above the average costs of recruiting and retaining staff. In 2005–06 its SFSS allocation was £3,679 per pupil: the 28th highest allocation in the country. In addition, it was allocated £1,081,611 of Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant.
	On capital, we are aware of the problems of aircraft noise in schools near the airport. The Department provides significant capital resources which can be used for noise reduction, where that is a local priority. Hillingdon and its schools are receiving over £50 million across the three years 2005–06 to 2007–08. I also understand that BAA recently set up a voluntary compensation scheme which covers schools affected by airport developments in circumstances where the noise levels are over 63 dBA (16 hours time-averaged level). The total fund made available by BAA amounts to £5 million a year.

Keith Hudson

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what date the case of Keith Hudson was referred to her Department for a List 99 determination; and on what date it was decided.

Ruth Kelly: The case of Keith Hudson was referred to this Department on 1 June 1998 and decided on 24 August 2001.

Student Loans

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the student loan book nominal value for outstanding loans for living and fee support (a) in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06 and (b) by 2007–08.

Bill Rammell: The student loan book nominal value for outstanding loans for maintenance and fee support for England and Wales students at the end of 2004–05 was £13.6 billion and is estimated to be around £16 billion by the end of 2005–06; and around £24 billion by the end of 2007–08.

Student Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was provided by her Department to EU students through student loans in 2004–05.

Bill Rammell: In the academic year 2004/05, student loans for living costs were not available to EU nationals except in very limited and specific circumstances: European Economic Area migrant workers in the UK; or those who had lived in the UK and Islands throughout the three-year period before the start of their course. These students were also eligible to apply for tuition fee support. We estimate that the number of such students is very small.
	In the same academic year, EU nationals studying in the UK were eligible for tuition fee support on the same basis as home students under Article 12 of the EC Treaty which requires that EU nationals are not discriminated against on grounds of nationality with regard to fees. The public contribution to tuition fees for these students studying in England and Wales in academic year 2004/05 was £17.3 million.

William Gibson

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by whom the case of William Gibson was referred to her Department for a List 99 determination; on what date the case was referred; and on what date the case was decided.

Ruth Kelly: The case of William Gibson was referred by a supply agency, STC Consortium by telephone call on 14 January 2003. The case was concluded on 31 January 2005.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department has taken to encourage owners of homes in multiple occupancy to prepare for digital switchover; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Many residents living in flats and other types of multi-occupancy dwellings are already able to access digital television services either through communal aerial systems that are capable of transmitting digital signals or through the use of other antennae. According to a survey carried out in 2004 by NOP World, 59 per cent. of local authority landlords and 47 per cent. of housing association and other registered social landlords had upgraded communal aerial systems for digital reception.
	In August 2005 we published "Digital Switchover; A Good Practice Briefing Special" in association with the Chartered Institute of Housing. This describes the implications of digital switchover for private and social sector landlords giving clear, objective advice on the various options available. The Good Practice Briefing has been circulated widely to housing sector professionals by DCMS, the Chartered Institute of Housing, by other housing representative bodies and by Digital UK. An electronic version is available on www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk. A copy of the Good Practice Briefing has been placed in the Library.
	The Digital Switchover Programme, led by Digital UK working with Government and Ofcom, has established a dedicated workstream on housing issues. This will make sure the progress in converting communal TV systems is tracked and that the right messages go to private and social landlords and to managing agents and other representatives. It will also be important to make sure that tenants are aware of what is happening, something Digital UK will do this year as part of its wider communications campaigns. The housing workstream will be supported by a dedicated Housing Stakeholder Group drawn from representatives from the private and social housing sectors as well as central and local government.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are in place to address the shortfall of medical staff in the armed forces.

Don Touhig: Manning levels in the Defence Medical Services (DMS) vary across different specialities and Services. In some areas we are very well manned, whilst in others we are experiencing shortfalls.
	Manning shortfalls are being addressed through a package of remunerative and non-remunerative measures. In terms of remuneration, we aim to ensure that DMS pay is comparable with the NHS. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for preparing papers of evidence on all DMS pay for the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's (AFPRB) consideration. Pay recommendations for Medical and Dental Officers are currently being considered by the AFPRB. Nurses and Allied Health Professionals in the DMS are covered separately by the main Armed Forces 2006 pay uplift of 3 per cent. which will be implemented from 1 April 2006. As recommended by the AFPRB, we are also in the process of examining the scope for changing their pay structures to ensure that military pay remains comparable with the new NHS Agenda for Change pay structure. Pay can only go some way towards addressing manning shortfalls. Non-remunerative measures are equally as important. Examples of non-remunerative initiatives include: the introduction of new pension arrangements which are designed to encourage retention; looking at alternative means of meeting operational commitments (for example, by working closely with allies and partners on operations overseas and by using DMS Civilian Medical and Dental Practitioners and Agency Staff); development of the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) concept to build a stronger military ethos; and the regular undertaking of Continuous Attitude Surveys to ensure we remain up to date with the concerns of our personnel.

Armed Forces

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many RAF service personnel medically assessed at grade (a) P2(A1), (b) P2(A2), (c) P2 or below (A3), (d) P2 or below (A4), (e) P3 or below (A5), (f) P8 (A5), (g) P2(G1), (h) P2(G2), (j) P3 or below (G3), (k) P7(G4), (l) P8(G5), (m) P2(Z1), (n) P3(Z2), (o) P3(Z3), (p) P3(Z4) and P7(Z5) are deployed in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan;
	(2)  how many Army service personnel medically assessed at grade (a) P2(FE), (b) P3(LE), (c) P3(PP), (d) P7(CPND), (e) P7(HO), (f) P7(HONNI) and (g) P7(HO(UK)NNI) are deployed in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Don Touhig: The information requested is not held centrally.

Cluster Munitions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ban the use of cluster munitions by UK forces.

Adam Ingram: No. Cluster munitions are not unlawful and UK Forces use them strictly in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. They provide a unique capability for use against wide area or dispersed targets.
	We will not deny our troops this battle winning capability and thereby place them at greater risk.

Courts Martial

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army personnel were (i) tried, (ii) found guilty and (iii) acquitted by a court martial in each calendar year between 2000 and 2005.

Don Touhig: The information requested is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			  Navy Army RAF Navy Army RAF Navy Army RAF 
		
		
			 Number of individuals tried by Court Martial 56 455 72 62 630 91 57 505 50 
			 Number(14) found guilty 32 373 56 43 485 78 44 440 38 
			 Number acquitted 16 82 16 14 145 13 10 65 12 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 2004 2005 
			  Navy Army RAF Navy Army RAF Navy Army RAF 
		
		
			 Number of individuals tried by Court Martial 61 470 62 72 521 43 69(13) 638 85 
			 Number(14) found guilty 51 400 44 48 464 37 49 545 73 
			 Number acquitted 8 70 18 15 57 6 12 93 12 
		
	
	(13) Revised from figure previously reported because five cases re-listed to 2006 and one case dealt with summarily, not by Court Martial.
	(14) Includes those where the accused was acquitted on some charges.

Departmental Dwellings

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the selling-off of empty departmental private dwellings.

Don Touhig: holding answer 2 March 2006
	The bulk of the married quarter estate in England and Wales was sold to Annington Homes Ltd (AHL) in 1996. Arrangements are in place for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to lease back properties from AHL as required. When there is no MOD requirement, the lease is surrendered to AHL who dispose of it as they see fit.
	A copy of MOD's 'Disposals List' which is regularly updated, is available in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the average monthly cost of the military operation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The costs of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the Ministry of Defence's annual report and accounts. Expenditure varies depending on troop numbers and activities and cannot therefore sensibly be broken down on a monthly basis.
	Estimated annual costs for operations in Iraq of 1,098 Million in 2005–06 were included in the Spring Supplementary Estimates published in February. Final figures will be published in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts for 2005–06 following audit by the National Audit Office.

Joint Strike Fighter

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his US counterpart about the joint strike fighter programme.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1714W, to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack).

Military Tattoo

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has estimated the cost of putting on an annual military tattoo in London; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces announced the discontinuance of the Defence 2000 series of events on 11 May 2004, Official Report, columns 223–4W. Since then there have been no plans to hold an annual military tattoo in London and no costings have been made.

Oracle

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Oracle database will be available to all service personnel.

Don Touhig: The Oracle based Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) programme is expected to be delivered to the RAF as planned in March 2006. The dates for its subsequent roll out to the Royal Navy and then the Army are currently under review to ensure full alignment with the deployment of the Defence Information Infrastructure upon which the JPA system depends.

Parachute Regiment

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the establishment manpower is of (a) officers and (b) other ranks in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment;
	(2)  how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks there are in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment; and how many in each category have completed their training within the last three months.

Don Touhig: The table shows the strength of 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, broken down by Officers and Soldiers, compared to the Infantry element of the establishment as at 1 January 2006. The table also shows the numbers of Officers and Soldiers who have entered the trained strength during the period 1 October 2005 and 31 December 2005.
	
		Trained Strength of the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment: As at 1 January 2006
		
			  Officers Soldiers Total 
		
		
			 Establishment 35 540 580 
			 Strength 40 480 520 
			 Of which, entered trained strength between  1 October 2005 and 31 December 2005 (15)— 20 20 
		
	
	(15) Indicates a value less than five.
	Notes:
	1. The figures quoted are as at 1 January 2006 and are for UK Regular Trained Army Officers and Soldiers only and therefore exclude Mobilised Reserves, Full Time Reserve Service and other Reserves.
	2. The Establishment figures include only the Infantry posts and exclude attached personnel of other Arms and Services such as chefs, clerks etc.
	3. The strength figures do not include personnel from other capbadges that are attached to the battalion. The officer element excludes personnel with the rank of Colonel and above.
	4. Officer figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Soldier and total figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals have been rounded separately and therefore may not be equal to the sum of their parts.
	In addition to those 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment personnel serving with 3rd Battalion there are 65 (excluding Colonels and Above) members of 3rd Battalion posted elsewhere, of these fewer than five had joined the trained strength during the period 1 October 2005 to 31 December 2005.

Royal Air Force

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what incentive schemes are operated by the Royal Air Force to encourage pilots to stay in the service.

Don Touhig: Current remuneration measures include a single targeted taxable financial retention incentive, paid to all fast jet and helicopter pilots and some multi-engine pilots in return for a five year return of service beyond the point at which they could leave with an immediate pension award. There is also a Professional Aviator Pay Scale for selected aircrew officers which replaces basic pay and flying pay rates with an enhanced rate of pay that results in higher pension payments in return for prolonged service.
	As a separate non-remuneration initiative, the RAF Civilian Airline Recruitment Scheme exists to encourage pilots to remain in the Service until they reach age 38 or complete 16 years service. In return, the scheme assists the transition of those wanting to pursue a second career in the civilian airlines.

Royal Air Force

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is of training a Royal Air Force pilot, broken down by aircraft type.

Don Touhig: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Accidental Dwelling Fires

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many (a) accidental dwelling fires started by (i) children aged 0 to 9 years, (ii) youths aged 10 to 17 years, (iii) adults of 18 plus years and (iv) others of unspecified age and (b) related casualties there were in (A) 2004 and (B) 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The table shows the data for financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 in England. Data for calendar year 2005 are not available yet.
	
		Accidental dwelling fires and related casualties by firestarter group, England, 2003–04 and 2004–05
		
			  2003–04 2004–05(16) 
			  Fires Fatal casualties Nonfatal casualties Fires Fatal casualties Nonfatal casualties 
		
		
			 Total 40,034 283 8,242 38,249 230 7,649 
			 Child (0–9 years) 1,111 14 438 921 8 342 
			 Youth (10-17 years) 1,258 0 246 1,034 0 241 
			 Adult (18 years and over) 26,678 185 6,044 25,634 153 5,556 
			 Other 9,198 24 1,152 8,881 15 1,176 
			 Unknown 1,788 60 362 1,778 54 334 
		
	
	(16) Data for 2005 are provisional.
	Source:
	Fire & Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

Defacement Removal Notices

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to extend the powers of local authorities to serve defacement removal notices on the owners of commercial property.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Under section 48 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 a graffiti removal notice may be served by a local authority in relation to certain types of 'relevant surface'. Section 31, and paragraphs 16–19 of Schedule 4 to, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, extend the scope of these notices so that they can also be issued in relation to fly-posting, and are re-named defacement removal notices. Currently the powers are available in 12 local authority pilot areas in relation to graffiti only, but as of April defacement notices for both graffiti and fly-posting will be commenced on a national basis.
	There are no plans to extend the types of surface to which the provisions apply. 'Relevant surface' in section 48 applies to street furniture and other structures in or on any public street. It does not, however, apply to private buildings such as shop fronts with a frontage that is adjacent to the street. Additionally, notices can be served in relation to surfaces owned, occupied or controlled by certain types of statutory undertaker (transport operators or providers, not utility companies) and educational institutions, provided that the land is public or the surface is visible from public land or to members of the public using the services of that body.

Fire Service (Buckinghamshire)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firefighters have (i) been employed and (ii) taken early retirement in (A) Milton Keynes and (B) Buckinghamshire Fire Authority in each year since 1996–97.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information on the number of firefighters employed in Milton Keynes is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the number of firefighters in Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority that have (i) been employed in each year since 1996–97 and (ii) taken ill-health retirement since 1998–99 is presented in the table; Information on ill-health retirement for individual fire and rescue services prior to 1998–99 is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	
		Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
		
			  Number employed(17) Number of ill health retirements 
			  Wholetime Retained duty system Wholetime Retained duty system 
		
		
			 1996–97 306 214 (18)— (18)— 
			 1997–98 301 199 (18)— (18)— 
			 1998–99 305 197 7 1 
			 1999–00 307 193 3 0 
			 2000–01 292 200 8 1 
			 2001–02 304 190 8 1 
			 2002–03 330 200 6 0 
			 2003–04 352 195 7 0 
			 2004–05(19) 349 184 5 0 
		
	
	(17) The figures provided are a snapshot at 31 March each year
	(18) Information not held centrally
	(19) Provisional data.
	Source:
	ODPM annual returns

Malicious Vehicle Fires

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many malicious vehicle fires there were in England in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The table shows the number of deliberate road vehicle primary fires attended by the fire and rescue service in England since 1997.
	
		
			  Number of deliberate road vehicle primary fires 
		
		
			 1997 35,162 
			 1998 40,090 
			 1999 41,888 
			 2000 58,979 
			 2001 67,158 
			 2002(20) 68,153 
			 2003(20) 61,958 
			 2004 46,660 
		
	
	(20) Including estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	Source:
	Fire & Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

National Parks

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much National Parks received via (a) council tax, (b) district and (c) county precepts in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The English National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority receive their core funding direct from Defra through the National Park Grant (NPG). For 2005–06 the NPG is £42.13 million in total. The level of NPG has increased by 51 per cent. since 2001–02. National Parks can also receive other Government funding, such as the performance related Planning Delivery Grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	Prior to 2004–05, Defra paid 75 per cent. of the NPG directly to the Parks, and routed 25 per cent. via the local authorities. Although the Parks have retained their levying powers they are not currently used.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

1911 Census

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library the correspondence exchanged in the period June to September 2004 between Susan Healy, Head of Information Policy and Legislation Unit, National Archives, and (a) Graham Smith, Deputy Information Commissioner and (b) Phil Boyd, Assistant Information Commissioner, on the subject of (i) access to Census records under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (ii) 1911 Census records.

Bridget Prentice: The National Archives will make arrangements to place a copy of the relevant correspondence in the Library. An explanatory note will also be provided.

Criminal Court (Salaried Defenders)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether PKF prepared a report to inform her policy on salaried defenders for the criminal court; if she will make a statement; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Bridget Prentice: PKF has not prepared a report for my Department to inform policy on salaried defenders in the criminal courts.
	Lord Carter of Coles, as part of his independent review of legal aid procurement, commissioned PKF to analyse the expenditure, income, efficiency and productivity of the legal professions in delivering legal aid services. Lord Carter will produce his final report later this spring.

Crown Courts

Robert Key: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were (a) tried, (b) found guilty and (c) acquitted by Crown courts in each calendar year between 2000 and 2005.

Bridget Prentice: Figures relating to the number of defendants (a) tried, (b) found guilty and (c) acquitted in the Crown Court are provided in the following table:
	
		Committals for trial and cases sent for trial: Defendants dealt with
		
			  Tried Found guilty (Convicted) Acquitted 
		
		
			 2000 29,439 9,672 19,767 
			 2001 28,848 9,687 19,161 
			 2002 28,853 9,929 18,924 
			 2003 28,534 9,241 19,293 
			 2004 28,727 9,415 19,312 
			 2005 26,938 9,032 17,906

Departmental IT

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many computer projects are being developed by her Department.

Bridget Prentice: In common with any large organisation, IT based change projects in my Department range in scale from the very small, involving just a small number of new PCs, to those supporting major strategic business developments for the Department. For the strategic group, there have been three change programmes: the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme (CTMP) covering the Crown and County Courts; Libra, covering the Magistrates' Courts; and ARAMIS, covering our Headquarters areas.

Ecovet FM

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was to her Department of employing Ecovet FM in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

Bridget Prentice: Ecovert FM have not been employed by my department in the financial years 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. As such there has been no cost to the department.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received since the May 2005 General Election from the Electoral Commission concerning (a) voter turnout and (b) strategies to reduce voter abstention.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Commission published its report 'Election 2005: turnout how many, who and Why?' Last October. The report provides a comprehensive analysis breakdown of data on turnout at the May 2006 General Election.
	The Electoral Commission have not made any representation concerning strategies to reduce voter abstention.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the factors affecting levels of voter turnout; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are concerned with the level of voter turnout and is taking steps to increase access to registration as the gateway to voting.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received on the use of electronic methods of counting votes cast in electoral processes; what assessment she has made of such methods; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: In October 2005 the DCA issued a prospectus calling for applications to conduct pilots at the May 2005 elections. Eight local authorities applied to electronically count votes cast in their elections. Lord Falconer approved four applications, which were announced by Written Ministerial Statement to this House on 14 February 2006 with associated explanatory material placed in the House Library.
	These applications were approved as they are expected to provide additional learning to pilots of electronic counting conducted in previous years and its use at elections for the Greater London assembly and London Members of the European Parliament in 2004. It is the role of the Electoral Commission to evaluate these pilots and we are working closely with the Commission to ensure that the evaluation process provides useful learning. The Commission's evaluations of previous pilots using e-counting are available on its website and I understand their report on this May's pilots will be due in August 2006.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Bridget Prentice: The Department for Constitutional Affairs did not host any specific events to mark Hanukkah or Yom Kippur.
	The events were included in the calendar of religious festivals, which are distributed to members of staff at the commencement of every year.
	The Department does encourage managers to be flexible in allowing individuals to take annual leave to celebrate religious festivals.
	The Department will be circulating a religion and belief toolkit by June 2006 to all members of staff, which will outline the practices and beliefs of the major faith communities in this country.
	The first Faith Forum in Whitehall will be launched by this Department on 21 February 2006. The Forum is a corporate body that includes members of staff and members of the judiciary. The objective is to develop a better, shared understanding of how faith relates to daily life, particularly in the workplace. Faiths represented include Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and other faith communities. It is also open to those belonging to no faith but are interested in faith issues.

Legal Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects Lord Carter to report on legal aid procurement.

Bridget Prentice: Lord Carter of Coles published an interim report on his approach to criminal legal aid procurement on 9 February 2006. His final report on both civil and criminal legal aid procurement is expected later this spring.

Legal Aid

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Frontier Economics prepared a report to inform the Carter Review of Legal Aid; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Frontier Economics have been working with Lord Carter in his Review of Legal Aid Procurement to help develop proposals for the reform of the legal aid procurement system and to provide advice on the economic impact of Lord Carter's proposed reforms. Lord Carter has not commissioned a formal report from Frontier.

Post Mortem

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many decisions to hold a coroner's post-mortem have resulted in delays to the release of bodies to (a) Jewish, (b) Muslim and (c) Hindu families living in Lancashire such that funerals have not been possible within 24 hours in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not available.

Prerogative Powers

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to review the use of prerogative powers.

Harriet Harman: The Government has no such plans.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Cars

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cars were abandoned in each government office region in England in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Estimates for numbers of abandoned vehicles by government office regions and England have been made for years 2000–01 to 2003–04. The results are published in the DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey, 2003–4, Annex A, Table 17 and are available from the DEFRA website, link below: http://defraweb/environment/statistics/wastats/mwb0304/wbtables.htm#annxa.Estimates for 2004–05 will be available in the Spring.

Avian Influenza

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to protect the farming industry in Hereford in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza, disease control would focus on the slaughter of infected birds and dangerous contacts, and the imposition of movement controls around infected premises.
	Poultry movements would still be permitted under license, depending on risk assessments and the proximity of poultry to infected premises. This approach would allow much of the poultry industry to continue its normal business.
	The countryside would not be closed down as we saw during the foot and mouth outbreak. If we had an avian influenza outbreak there would be little need to restrict access to land by closing footpaths or other rights of way.
	Our extensive wild bird surveillance programme in the UK has not revealed highly pathogenic avian influenza in any sample collected so far. We are continuing to work with stakeholders to increase vigilance and encourage sensible bio-security measures.

Avian Influenza

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries have reported cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: In the last 12 months the H5N1 virus type has been reported in Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, northern Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.
	In addition the H5 virus type has been reported in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, and Switzerland.

Avian Influenza

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many requests state veterinary surgeons have received for the vaccination of birds against avian influenza; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally by the State Veterinary Service.
	We believe, however, that swift detection and culling of infected flocks and dangerous contacts, and the introduction of movement controls around infected premises is a more effective and efficient strategy for disease control, should an outbreak of avian influenza occur in this country. The vast majority of poultry stakeholders agree.

Avian Influenza

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to protect endangered bird species kept in zoos from avian influenza; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is considering a preventive vaccination programme for zoo birds in the UK for conservation purposes. This will be based on a scientific and veterinary risk assessment. If we decide to implement such a programme, it will require prior approval from the Commission.

Avian Influenza

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government plans to take to protect rare breeds amongst UK poultry from avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is considering a preventive vaccination programme for rare breeds in the UK for conservation purposes. This will be based on a scientific and veterinary risk assessment. If we decide to implement such a programme, it will require prior approval from the Commission.

Avian Influenza

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether poultry producers producing rare breeds are permitted to vaccinate their poultry.

Ben Bradshaw: Vaccines are available to protect poultry against some diseases, for example, Newcastle Disease. But the use of avian influenza vaccines is prohibited by European Union (EU) legislation except in emergency or high risk situations. An avian influenza vaccine would also have to be specifically authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer.
	Of course, we continue to monitor developments on vaccination and to discuss the issue with stakeholders.

Avian Influenza

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Government are giving to poultry farmers in Westmorland and Lonsdale on the possibility of an outbreak of avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 2 March 2006
	Defra has distributed guidance materials to a range of industry groups who have helped to distribute information to their members. We have also provided leaflets and posters to farmers and local veterinary surgeons and placed advertisements in poultry hobby magazines. Specific guidance on worker protection has been issued by an industry and cross-departmental working group. Information is also available on the avian influenza pages of the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to cull poultry from an unregistered flock in the event of an avian influenza outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza in this country, disease control would include culling birds on infected premises, regardless of whether they were registered under the GB Poultry Register.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the criteria which must be met before a decision is taken to order the vaccination of domestic poultry flocks.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leominster (Bill Wiggin) on 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1807W.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the implementation of pre-movement testing for bovine tuberculosis has been postponed.

Ben Bradshaw: The start of pre-movement testing has been put back to 27 March 2006 so industry has more time to prepare for the measure. Defra is appointing an independent advisor to carry out a rapid survey of veterinary capacity and preparedness to deliver the new requirements for pre-movement testing in order to address concerns raised by the farming industry and veterinary profession. But the policy itself will not be subject to review, as it is widely expected to reduce the risk of spreading TB through cattle movements.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the results of the work of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency evaluating the use of the gamma interferon test for bovine tuberculosis in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra received, in late 2005, an interim report of the first 150 herds in the field trial from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). A copy of the report was given to the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB to inform their ongoing work.
	The VLA are due to produce a more complete analysis of the results obtained, from all 195 herds recruited in the trial, by the end of March. Once it has decided what publishable material will come out of the analysis, Defra will, in line with standard practice, make the final report freely available.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase the amount of compensation payable for premium cattle which have contracted TB to standard compensation level; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No. The new arrangements for cattle affected by bovine tuberculosis came into force in England on 1 February 2006. In making these changes, the Department's objective is to have in place a system that promotes good industry practice, enhances disease control, addresses the serious (and independently identified) problem of over-compensation, and is fair to both cattle owners and the taxpayer.
	Under these arrangements, we believe that all farmers effectively gain because they are being compensated for disease affected animals (whose true worth are salvage value only) using a price based on the value of healthy animals.
	As part of Government's ongoing commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders, Defra is setting up a Cattle Compensation Advisory Group involving industry stakeholder representatives. We expect this stakeholder group to help us monitor the new compensation arrangements.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to provide a second TB test for farmers whose cattle have tested positive to the TB reactor test and are prepared to pay for a further test.

Ben Bradshaw: No. The current skin test for bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an effective test. It is the accepted standard laid down in both national and international legislation for determining the existence of disease in a cattle herd.
	The Tuberculosis (England and Wales) Order 1984 requires cattle failing the tuberculin test, and those considered to have been direct contacts exposed to TB, to be compulsorily slaughtered. And Directive 64/432 requires the slaughter of cattle once they react positively to the bovine TB skin test. There is no automatic provision for a second TB test. However in exceptional circumstances, for example if there is clear evidence that the skin test has not been carried out in accordance with instructions, officials will offer a re-test.

Christmas Cards

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cost to her Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

Jim Knight: The official 2005 Defra Christmas Card was produced at a cost of £4,000: 7,000 cards were produced. Information relating to costs incurred on mailing Christmas cards from across Defra is not held centrally. To retrieve this information would incur disproportionate cost, as this is incurred at a local or individual level.
	All expenditure on Christmas cards is made in accordance with normal departmental financial procedures and principles based on those set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Building (Guildford)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the shuttle bus service proposed to service the departmental building at Merrow, Guildford will commence; whether a car-share co-ordinator has been appointed; and whether departmental staff have initiated a video-conferencing publicity campaign.

Jim Knight: Defra and IBM have agreed, in principle, to fund a "Park & Ride" type service to ferry commuters working at the Defra Site. We are in discussions with Guildford Borough Council and the preferred Bus Company, to try to identify a convenient location for the off-site parking of vehicles. The date for the commencement of this proposed service is dependent upon the identification of this site.
	Rather than appoint a car-share co-ordinator, Defra have evaluated the Surrey Car Share Scheme, promoted by Surrey County Council and are in the process of joining.
	Defra and IBM have access to full video conferencing facilities at the Guildford Defra Offices. We have already launched a poster campaign around the Site, to advertise the facilities and to encourage wider participation in this form of meeting communication. It is also intended to publicise the facility on the Guildford pages of the Defra Intranet. This will be an ongoing campaign strategy to re-iterate the benefits of such communication and re-enforce the positive message.

Departmental Recruitment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many job advertisements were placed by her Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what (i) total and (ii) average cost in each case.

Jim Knight: Defra was formed in 2001 and the Resource Centre was created in April 2004 centralising recruitment activity within the Department from that date. The information requested is available for the period since April 2004 and is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  1 April 2004 to 31 December 2004 2005 1 January 2006 to 10 February 2006 Overall total since 1 April 2004 
		
		
			 Number of Ads placed 143 223 7 373 
			 Number of ads placed in Newspapers/Magazines 66 85 3 154 
			 Number of ads placed on websites 77 (21)138 4 219 
			 Total Cost of Ads in Newspapers/Magazines (£) 179,008 253,703 8,648 441,359 
			 Total cost of Ads on websites (£) 6,949 3,235 0 10,184 
			 Average cost of Ads in Newspapers/Magazines (£) 2,712.24 2,984.71 2,882.66 2,865.96 
			 Average cost of Ads on Websites (£) 90.24 23.44 0 46.50 
		
	
	(21) This number includes the Civil Service Gateway, Job Centre Website and www.defra.gov.uk all of which are free of charge.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed by the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last 12 months for which information is available; and how many and what percentage of posts were vacant in each region in each month.

Jim Knight: The number of people employed in the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last 12 months (as at the 1st of the month) was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 March 2005 3,606 
			 April 2005 3,545 
			 May 2005 3,475 
			 June 2005 3,403 
			 July 2005 3,440 
			 August 2005 3,146 
			 September 2005 3,087 
			 October 2005 3,053 
			 November 2005 3,114 
			 December 2005 3,122 
			 January 2006 3,095 
			 February 2006 3,133 
		
	
	The number and percentage of posts (for which data are available) that were vacant, and addressed by external recruitment, in each region in each month was as follows:
	
		
			  Region Vacancies Percentage 
		
		
			 March 2005 South East 6 0.17 
			 
			 April 2005 South East 14 0.39 
			 
			 May 2005 South East 20 0.58 
			  North West 1 0.03 
			  North East 1 0.03 
			 
			  South West 1 0.03 
			 
			 June 2005 South East 9 0.26 
			  North West 2 0.06 
			  North East 2 0.06 
			  South West 2 0.06 
			 
			 July 2005 South East 16 0.46 
			  North West 1 0.03 
			  North East 1 0.03 
			  South West 1 0.03 
			 
			 August 2005 South East 19 0.6 
			  North West 2 0.06 
			  North East 1 0.03 
			  South West 2 0.06 
			 
			 September 2005 South East 11 0.36 
			  North East 137 4.44 
			 
			 October 2005 South East 5 0.16 
			  North West 100 3.27 
			 
			 November 2005 South East 6 0.19 
			 
			 December 2005 South East 19 0.6 
			  North West 19 0.6 
			  North East 19 0.6 
			  South West 19 0.6 
			 
			 January 2006 South East 12 0.39 
			  North West 23 0.74 
			  North East 12 0.39 
			  South West 12 0.39 
			 
			 February South East 4 0.13 
			  North West 20 0.64

Digital Maps

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many digital maps issued by the Rural Payments Agency have been returned due to error; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is responsible for the administration of digital mapping in England. The digital mapping data capture work is being subject to a continuous quality assurance checking process. Just under a third of all land parcels captured or amended are being checked, with 2.2 per cent. of land parcels checked requiring amendment before the map is sent to applicants.
	RPA does not assess whether changes requested to maps are due to errors in the data capture or due to further amendments.

Digital Maps

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the time taken to receive a digital map from the Rural Payments Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Over the past seven months the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has received well over 100,000 requests to register land or modify existing registrations. That number reflects an increase in demand of over 1000 per cent. over previous levels. Against this level of demand it is not surprising that requests have taken longer to process than had been previously been the case. In view of the unprecedented demand RPA introduced new procedures to reduce the processing timetable. Since the start of 2006 each request has taken on average six weeks to process.

Digital Maps

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken was for the Rural Payments Agency to send out a digital map in the latest period for which a figure is available.

Jim Knight: Since 1 January 2006 the average time taken by Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to send a digital map is six weeks, timed from receipt of the request at RPA to the map being mailed.

Fly-tipping

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in (a) Uxbridge constituency and (b) the London borough of Hillingdon in each year since 1997; how many prosecutions were made as a result; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has worked with the Environment Agency to establish Flycapture, the national database of fly-tipping, which has been operational since April 2004. No national data were previously available on illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping.
	Flycapture collects data at local authority level only. It is important to note that the data are probably an underestimate and will increase as authorities get better at collecting and reporting the data.
	The London borough of Hillingdon reported 2,128 incidents of fly-tipping between April 2004 and March 2005 (an average of 177 per month) and 1,799 between April 2005 and December 2005 (average 200 per month). During the same time periods the Environment Agency investigated 11 and 4 incidents respectively in Hillingdon.
	The data submitted for prosecutions are incomplete but show that the London borough of Hillingdon took one prosecution in 2004–05 and six to date in 2005–06. The Environment Agency took two prosecutions in both 2004–05 and so far in 2005–06.

Fly-tipping

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of trends in the amount of fly-tipping since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: No national data were previously available before Flycapture, the national database for fly-tipping incidents, was launched in April 2004. Data from the first year's Flycapture reports have indicated that local authorities and the Environment Agency dealt with 955,426 incidents of fly-tipping in England and Wales between April 2004 and March 2005.

Gamma Interferon Working Group

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference are for the Gamma Interferon Working Group; and when it is due to report to Ministers.

Ben Bradshaw: The terms of reference for the Gamma Interferon Working Group are to consider and plan the use of the gamma interferon test as a policy delivery measure.
	Although there is no set date when the group will report to Ministers, it will do so before the wider roll out of the test occurs later this year. In the meantime, Defra continues to facilitate the use of the gamma interferon test in certain prescribed circumstances.

Horse Riding

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from horse riders and horse riding organisations about access to (a) sites of specific interest and (b) national nature reserves; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 27 February 2006
	We have worked closely with both the British Horse Society (BHS) and the British Horse Industry Confederation on the production of the joint Horse Industry Strategy for England and Wales which was launched in December 2005. The strategy includes a range of proposals on increasing access to off-road riding. During consultation we received a number of representations covering a variety of horse related issues.
	English Nature manages most of England's national nature reserves and is also responsible for administering the SSSI regime. It promotes and works to increase access and recreation on NNRs whilst also ensuring the protection of the special interest features of sites. My Department has recently received correspondence relating specifically to horse riding at Saltfleetby National Nature Reserve, to which a reply will be sent shortly.

House of Lords

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any (a) employee of her Department, (b) person engaged by her Department as a consultant and (c) paid adviser to her Department is a member of the House of Lords; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There are no records in the Department of any current employee, consultant or paid adviser also being a member of the House of Lords.

Natural Reserve

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the basis is of the calculation of the Natural Reserve; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: National Reserve awards under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) have been calculated in accordance with the provisions of Article 42 of EU Council Regulation no. 1782/2003 and Articles 18—23a of EU Commission Regulation no.796/2004. Those provisions and details of how member state discretion, where provided for, has been exercised in England, were summarised in section F of the "Single Payment Scheme Handbook and Guidance for England 2005", a copy of which was sent to all SPS applicants in 2005. I am arranging for copies to the placed in the Libraries of the House.

Pension Liabilities

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the net present value of accrued pension liabilities in respect of (a) present and (b) former employees of her Department and its predecessors.

Jim Knight: The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefit scheme and individual departments' pension liabilities are not available. The Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts for 2004–05 showed that the total pension liability at 31 March 2005 was £84.1 billion. The value of pension liabilities was assessed as follows:
	liabilities for current members still contributing to the scheme—£37 billion
	deferred pensions and contingent pensions for dependants in respect of members no longer contributing—£12.7 billion
	current pensions for members and contingent pensions for dependants—£34.4 billion
	As a result of a change in the discount rate used for calculating pension liabilities with effect from 1 April 2005, the total pension liability at 1 April 2005 increased by £10.6 billion to £94.7 billion.

Single Farm Payment

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the interest which has accumulated from the funds allocated for single farm payments which have not yet been paid; and what the interest will be used for.

Jim Knight: Common Agricultural Policy funding is reimbursed by the European Commission two months after the end of the month in which the payments to claimants are made. No funds have therefore been received in respect of payments under the Single Payment Scheme that have not yet been made and no interest has therefore accumulated.

Single Farm Payment

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms to date have received the correct single farm payment from the Rural Payments Agency; and on what date she expects all farmers in England to have received full payment.

Jim Knight: RPA made the first Single Payment Scheme payments to farmers and growers in England on 20 February. It remains on track to complete the bulk of payments by the end of March 2006.
	I expect all payments will be made well within the regulatory payment window which runs until 30 June 2006.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much is expected to be saved as a result of meeting the Civil Service workforce reductions targets for her Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review; and whether these savings count towards the agreed efficiency target for her Department set out in the Review.

Jim Knight: Defra has a target to achieve financial efficiencies of £610 million by March 2008, of which more than 60 per cent. are planned to be cash-releasing. Within the same timeframe, Defra will reduce the size of its workforce by 2,400. The financial savings arising from this workforce reduction will count towards the cash-releasing target though it is not possible to confirm the precise level at this stage.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the agreed efficiency target for her Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review is to be cashable; and under what budget headings these cashable efficiency savings will be re-spent.

Jim Knight: Defra has a target to deliver £610 million financial efficiencies by March 2008. Over 60 per cent. of these are planned to be cash-releasing. They arise from two broad areas. First, Defra identified £226 million of cashable savings. These have been recycled to meet (i) requirements under the Department's 5 Year Strategy for which we were unsuccessful in gaining additional funding in SR04, such as some elements of the climate change and sustainable development programmes, and (ii) other priority pressures such as bovine TB and diffuse water pollution.
	The second area relates to local authorities, which have a target to deliver at least £149 million cashable savings through improved management of environmental services. Each local authority is free to determine how the resources it releases will be used.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the target level of employment expressed as full-time equivalents is in her Department by April 2008, in order to meet her Department's Civil Service workforce reductions target set out in the 2004 Spending Review.

Jim Knight: The target level for staff in post in April 2008 for DEFRA and its Executive Agencies (excluding non-departmental public bodies) is 11,250.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what total efficiency savings were achieved by her Department in 2004–05; and whether these count towards the agreed efficiency target for her Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review.

Jim Knight: DEFRA achieved efficiency savings of £114.6 million in 2004–05. Apart from efficiencies of £6.5 million arising from one-off procurement activities, these savings count towards the overall efficiency target of £610 million to be achieved by March 2008.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what interim targets she has set for achieving (a) the agreed efficiency target for her Department and (b) the Civil Service workforce reductions targets for (i) gross reductions in posts, (ii) net reductions in posts and (iii) relocations for her Department, as set out in the 2004 Spending Review; what the baseline figures are against which these interim targets are assessed; on what dates they will take effect; and by what dates these interim targets are intended to be met.

Jim Knight: DEFRA does not have interim efficiency targets. The Department's efficiency portfolio is made up of a number of programmes and projects that will deliver efficiencies at various times in the 2004 Spending Review period. DEFRA's Efficiency Technical Note, which is available on-line (www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/busplan/efficiencynote-0511.pdf), describes our plans for meeting efficiency targets. We have developed a trajectory based on key milestones from the component parts of the efficiency portfolio and use this to monitor progress towards financial, workforce and relocation targets.

Travelling Circuses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received since 1997 from (a) individuals and (b) organisations on the welfare of animals in travelling circuses; and when the Department last (i) commissioned and (ii) evaluated research on the welfare of animals in travelling circuses.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has received a range of representations on this issue from both individuals and organisations. We have considered the findings of various research projects, but have not commissioned any directly.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of her Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: Incidences of vandalism to my Department's buildings across the estate are very rare. Over the last 12 months there have been few, and those that have occurred, have been limited to trivial acts of graffiti or minor vandalism to fixtures and fittings. A list of individual incidents is not recorded centrally.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Property

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what properties are held by his Department; and what the (a) square footage and (b) purpose to which the property is being put is in each case.

Jim Murphy: The properties held by the Cabinet Office, their Net Internal Area and the purpose for which the properties are being used are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Land and property Net internal area (m(23))  Use 
		
		
			 10–12 Downing Street 3,388 Office/residential accommodation 
			 70 Whitehall 7,895 Office 
			 36 Whitehall 2,031 Office 
			 Admiralty House 1,367 Ministerial residences for non-Cabinet Office Ministers including conference  facilities 
			 22/26 Whitehall 8,678 Office 
			 Admiralty Arch 7,383 Office 
			 13–1 5 Scotland Yard 988 Civil Service Club 
			 53 Parliament Street 892 Office 
			 1 Horse Guards Road 323 Office 
			 9 Whitehall 1,522 Office 
			 11 Belgrave Road 2,441 Office/training facilities 
			 2 Little Smith Street 600 Office 
			 35 Great Smith Street 2,925 Office 
			 Stockley House 2,937 Office 
			 7 St James Square 1,202 Office 
			 67 Tufton Street 2,087 Office/recruitment and selection facilities 
			 1 0 Great George Street 2,220 Office 
			 The Hawkhills, York 10,230 Office/residential training facilities 
			 Hannington Radio Station, Hampshire 1,441 Transmission mast and miscellaneous out-buildings 
			 Grosvenor House, Basingstoke 1,695 Office 
			 St. Clements House, Norwich 284 Office 
			 Birchwood Park, Warrington 728 Office 
			 Sunningdale Park, Berkshire 2,385 Office/residential training facilities

Ministers Without Portfolio

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from what date and for what reason it became the practice that Ministers Without Portfolio no longer answer written questions.

Jim Murphy: The tabling of written questions is a matter for the House Authorities.

Regulatory Reform

Andrew Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library his initial response to the Regulatory Reform Committee's 1st Special Report of Session 2005–06

Jim Murphy: Copies of the response have been placed in the Library.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much is expected to be saved as a result of meeting the civil service work force reductions targets for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review; and whether these savings count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the review.

Jim Murphy: The expected saving for the Department is £5.65 million.
	These savings count towards our agreed efficiency target.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the target level of employment expressed as full-time equivalents is in the Cabinet Office by April 2008, in order to meet the Cabinet Office's civil service workforce reductions target set out in the 2004 Spending Review.

Jim Murphy: I can confirm that the current target is 1,990.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what baseline figures he is using for assessing progress on the Cabinet Office's targets to (a) rationalise back office functions by continuing work on a shared corporate human resources centre with HM Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (b) review back office systems and costs, (c) implement reforms in financial management and information technology and (d) improve procurement; what progress has been made towards these targets to date; and what the total efficiency savings achieved to date are for these targets.

Jim Murphy: The baseline against which these efficiencies are measured is the outturn expenditure for Cabinet Office for 2003–04 and our workforce headcount figures reported on 1 April 2004.
	The Cabinet Office achieved £1.2 million in efficiency savings in 2004–05. The breakdown across categories is shown in the table.
	
		£ millions
		
			 Category Savings 
		
		
			 Rationalisation of back office functions 0 
			 Review of back office systems and costs 0.6 
			 Financial management and IT reforms 0 
			 Improvements in procurement 0.6 
		
	
	Our Internal Audit Service is calculating an independent review of our progress for 2005–06, but the unaudited figures show us to be ahead of trajectory towards achieving our final 2007–08 target.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what interim targets he has set for achieving (a) the agreed efficiency target for the Cabinet Office and (b) the civil service workforce reductions targets for (i) gross reductions in posts, (ii) net reductions in posts and (iii) relocations for the Cabinet Office, as set out in the 2004 Spending Review; what the baseline figures are against which these interim targets are assessed; on what dates they will take effect; and by what dates these interim targets are intended to be met.

Jim Murphy: The Efficiency Technical Note published on the Cabinet Office website sets out our current plans for achieving our efficiency target for 2007–08.
	A revised Efficiency Technical Note will be published in spring 2006 to reflect our plans for a Cabinet Office that is more strategic and better focused on its core objectives.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Accidental Deaths

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the accidental deaths of UK citizens abroad whose cases were handled by consular staff in 2004–05, broken down by country; and in how many cases individuals were abroad on (a) tourist, (b) student, (c) business and (d) immigrant visas.

Kim Howells: The following table provides a breakdown by country of the number of British Nationals entered as accidental death cases during 2004–05 on our global assistance database. The total of 387 is lower than the figure of 389 given to my hon. Friend on 14 February 2006, as two duplicate cases were discovered on our database. It is possible that there were a small number of cases not recorded on the database but only recorded locally on paper files. The figure of 387 does not include any Tsunami cases; all 150 of these will be counted in the 2005–06 period due to the extended period of time in establishing this figure. We do not keep a record of the immigration status of these individuals.
	
		Accidental deaths of British Nationals abroad.Total cases 1 April 2004–31 March 2005
		
			 Country Accidental death cases 2004–05 
		
		
			 Andorra 1 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 1 
			 Argentina 2 
			 Australia 9 
			 Austria 8 
			 Bahamas 1 
			 Belgium 3 
			 Bolivia 1 
			 Brazil 5 
			 Bulgaria 1 
			 Canada 5 
			 Chile 1 
			 China 1 
			 Costa Rica 1 
			 Croatia 2 
			 Cuba 2 
			 Cyprus 21 
			 Czech Republic 6 
			 Dominican Republic 4 
			 Ecuador 1 
			 Egypt 1 
			 Eritrea 1 
			 Ethiopia 1 
			 France 35 
			 Germany 9 
			 Ghana 2 
			 Greece 40 
			 Guyana 1 
			 Hungary 1 
			 India 1 
			 Iran 1 
			 Iraq 1 
			 Ireland 1 
			 Italy 4 
			 Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) 1 
			 Jamaica 1 
			 Japan 2 
			 Kenya 2 
			 Latvia 3 
			 Malaysia 1 
			 Maldives 1 
			 Mali 1 
			 Malta 3 
			 Mexico 2 
			 Netherlands 8 
			 New Zealand 10 
			 Nigeria 1 
			 Norway 1 
			 Peru 2 
			 Philippines 2 
			 Poland 1 
			 Portugal 5 
			 Romania 3 
			 Russia 2 
			 Rwanda 1 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 1 
			 Seychelles 2 
			 Slovenia 2 
			 South Africa 10 
			 Spain 77 
			 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1 
			 Sudan 1 
			 Switzerland 6 
			 Thailand 4 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 1 
			 Tunisia 2 
			 Turkey 18 
			 Ukraine 1 
			 United Arab Emirates 1 
			 USA 29 
			 Zambia 2 
			 Zimbabwe 1 
			 Total 387 
		
	
	Source:
	COMPASS-NG

Asian Tsunami

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government financial help is available following the tsunami disaster to British citizens who are residents of Sri Lanka (a) to rebuild their businesses and (b) for other purposes.

Kim Howells: No financial assistance is available to British citizens resident in Sri Lanka to rebuild their businesses following the tsunami disaster, nor for any other purposes.
	The Tsunami Family Assistance Package ceased on 31 January 2006. The one (dual British/Sri Lankan) family resident in Sri Lanka who were entitled to assistance under the Family Assistance Package have not used it. They were informed of their entitlement.

Balata Refugee Camp

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government concerning its military attacks on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus; what estimate he has made of the number of civilians who have been (a) killed and (b) injured in the last seven days; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the killings on the continuance of the truce being observed by Hamas.

Kim Howells: On 23 February, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) killed five Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus, four of them in the Balata refugee camp. We have no estimate of the number of Palestinians who may have been injured. However, the Israeli non-governmental organisation "Physicians for Human Rights" has protested about the injuring by the IDF of an ambulance man who was attempting to reach casualties during the clashes.
	We condemn the recent upsurge in Israeli military activity in the West Bank and Gaza, and our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised this with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, on 30 January. We have made no assessment of the effect of the Israeli military activity on the current truce held by Hamas.

British Overseas Territories

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to allow British overseas territories to veto the choice of governor appointed by the UK Government.

Douglas Alexander: The Governor is the official representative of Her Majesty the Queen and therefore it would not be appropriate to give overseas territories the right of veto. Chief Ministers, or their equivalents, are asked for their views on the qualities required of the Governor at an early stage in the appointment process. These are taken into account in the selection and chief Ministers are then notified personally and in confidence of the proposed candidate before the appointment is submitted to Her Majesty the Queen for approval.

British Virgin Islands

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit the British Virgin Islands to meet their elected representative.

Douglas Alexander: Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, East dated 21 November 2005, regarding Mr. Michael Day.

Kim Howells: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 28 February.

Cyprus

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to amend his Department's advice to UK nationals considering purchasing property in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We keep all our travel advice under regular review. Our advice for Cyprus was last updated on 30 January. It advises British citizens considering purchasing property in Cyprus to seek independent qualified legal advice and warns of a number of potential practical, financial and legal complications, particularly in buying property in the north. These complications arise principally from the non-recognition of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", the possibility of a future political settlement in Cyprus, and claims to ownership from people displaced in 1974. Our travel advice also warns of the risk of legal proceedings in the Republic of Cyprus, as well as attempts to enforce judgments from the courts of the Republic of Cyprus elsewhere in the EU, including the UK.

Cyprus

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Cyprus about the occupied part of the island; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently visited Cyprus, Turkey and Greece to evaluate the prospects for progress towards a comprehensive settlement and the reunification of the island. In Cyprus, he met Foreign Minister George Iacovou for a full discussion on all aspects of the Cyprus problem. The UK remains firmly committed to supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive solution. To this end, we also remain committed to ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. We were delighted that the EU Council of Ministers agreed to provide €139 million to the Turkish Cypriot community on 27 February. These funds will help narrow the economic gap between the two communities and bring the Turkish Cypriot community closer to the EU.

Cyprus

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is regarding the deadline of the end of 2006 set by the EU presidency for Turkey to recognise Cyprus.

Douglas Alexander: Despite press reports to the contrary over the last week, the EU presidency has not set a deadline for Turkey to recognise the Republic of Cyprus. In 2006, the EU will review Turkey's implementation of the Ankara Agreement Protocol extending the Customs Union to all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. EU leaders, including President Papadopoulos of Cyprus, have said that signing the Ankara Agreement Protocol does not amount to recognition. The EU has, however, made clear that recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the EU accession process.

Diplomatic Passports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those organisations which are not a state for which the United Kingdom recognises a diplomatic passport.

Kim Howells: The UK does not recognise any diplomatic passports issued by organisations which are not a state.

Embassies and Consulates

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether an agreement is in place with other EU member states to provide consular assistance to EU nationals.

Kim Howells: EU member states consular staff in countries outside the EU provide consular assistance to EU nationals whose own country is not represented, in conformity with article 20 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the European Council decision of 19 December 1995 regarding protection for citizens of the European Union by diplomatic and consular missions (Decision 95/553/EC, Official Journal L 314, 28/12/1995). The full text is available at: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do? uri=CELEX:41995D0553:EM:HTML

Gibraltar

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the Royal Gibraltar police's investigation into the complaint that officers of the Gibraltar Services police unlawfully removed papers from the premises of the Transport and General Workers Union in Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Royal Gibraltar police's investigation into this matter, which was conducted lawfully under a waiver issued by the Governor, has been completed and no further action will be taken.

Guantanamo Bay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters his Department has received about Guantanamo Bay.

Kim Howells: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers have replied to 259 letters from Members of Parliament, and FCO departments have replied to 1,140 letters from members of the public, about Guantanamo Bay since 1 October 2004. To collate the statistics before that date would involve disproportionate cost.

Guantanamo Bay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations in the UN Human Rights Commission report on the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay; and what discussions he has had with the US Administration on the recommendations in the report.

Kim Howells: We have made it clear that we regard the circumstances under which detainees continue to be held in Guantanamo Bay as unacceptable. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said that Guantanamo Bay is an anomaly that should come to an end sooner rather than later. The US Government is fully aware of our views.
	However, it is important to remember the circumstances which led to Guantanamo Bay. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. We remain determined to work with our allies to defeat the scourge of international terrorism.

Haiti

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospect of free and fair elections in Haiti.

Douglas Alexander: The first round of presidential and parliamentary elections took place in Haiti on 7 February. On 16 February, Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) declared Rene Preval the winner of the presidential elections with 51.15 per cent. of the vote. The European Union sent an observer mission to monitor the elections. The mission's preliminary declaration reports that polling took place in a calm environment with high voter turnout and that the elections mark a major step forward for Haiti's democratic process. The mission will produce a full report on the election process once the second round of parliamentary elections has taken place on 19 March.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the authorities in Iran and (b) other bodies regarding the use of the death penalty in Iran.

Kim Howells: We have serious concerns regarding the Iranian authorities' use of the death penalty. Figures from international non-governmental organisations indicate that in 2004 only China executed more people. We receive many reports of executions carried out in public. Growing numbers of juvenile offenders have been sentenced to death, and in some cases executed.
	During our presidency of the EU in 2005, we pressed the Iranian authorities on seven occasions on death penalty related concerns. On 26 July 2005, the EU issued a public statement recalling the EU's "long held position that capital punishment may not, in any circumstances, be imposed on persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of their crime". Such punishments are in contravention of Iran's obligations under International Convention of Civil and Political Rights and also the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The EU expressed its hope that Iran would adopt a law abolishing all lashings and executions for crimes committed by those under the age of 18. It called on Iran to implement a moratorium until that time.
	We have also raised death penalty concerns in other fora. In December 2005, all EU member states co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution expressed serious concern at "public executions including multiple public executions and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognised safeguards" and deplored "the execution of persons who were below 18 years of age at the time their offence was committed".

Israel

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received to the representations he made to the Israeli Government in November 2005 concerning the anti-semitic harassment of the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, by an Israeli official at Tel-Aviv airport.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary received a letter from the Israeli ambassador dated 10 January, responding to his letter which raised my right hon. Friend's concerns. The ambassador noted that the letter had been passed to the relevant authorities in Israel to investigate. My officials have since spoken with the Israeli embassy, who have assured us that they will provide a full reply once they have completed their investigation.

Kazakhstan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) reports that the Government of Kazakhstan has operated death squads which have murdered opposition politicians and (b) the impact this may have upon the transition to democracy.

Douglas Alexander: I was saddened to hear about the murder of Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly on 13 February. The EU made a statement shortly afterwards offering condolences, underlining the need for an immediate, full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death, and asking to be kept informed of developments.
	Together with our EU partners, we will continue to work to encourage democratic reform in Kazakhstan.

Middle East

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections on equality and freedom for women.

Kim Howells: We have made no specific assessment on what impact Hamas's recent election success will have upon equality and secular freedom for women. Hamas have not yet formed a government and we understand that this may take some time.

Montenegro

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposed referendum on whether Montenegro should secede from Serbia.

Douglas Alexander: The Government believe that a fully functioning state union is the most effective means of furthering Serbia and Montenegro's progress towards the EU, and to contribute to lasting reconciliation in the region. However, under the terms of the 2003 Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, either republic can hold a referendum on withdrawal after three years. We respect this provision and we expect both republics to do the same.
	If a referendum takes place in Montenegro this year, as is increasingly likely, it should be held according to the terms of the Constitutional Charter and any outcome be transparent, peaceful, consensual and democratic. The UK welcomes the appointment of Miroslav Lajcak as personal representative of the EU High Representative, Javier Solana, to help facilitate dialogue between the Montenegrin Government and the opposition to agree the terms for holding a referendum. Ensuring that the referendum and its preceding campaign meet internationally recognised standards and are free and fair will be vital if the international community is to recognise the outcome of any referendum.

Russia

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian Government on the position of Hindus in Russia, with particular reference to Moscow; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In the course of their on-going contacts, Ministers and staff at our embassy in Moscow continue to raise human rights issues with the Russian Government. We also raise our concerns during biannual EU/Russia consultations and UK/Russia human rights dialogues. Religious freedom is an important part of the agenda at the next EU/Russia human rights consultation, to be held in Vienna on 3 March. In consultation with the Defend Russian Hindus Campaign, we have provided the Austrian presidency with briefing on this point. We will continue to monitor this and other religious freedom issues in Russia and raise them as appropriate in the cause of our on-going dialogue.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Judicial Review (QCs)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Solicitor-General what rates a Queen's counsel in the Treasury solicitor's Department are entitled to in judicial review cases.

Mike O'Brien: There is no standard rate. The Treasury Solicitor negotiates rates designed to achieve value for money on an individual basis for QCs instructed in judicial review cases.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on changes to the Access to Work programme relating to the provision of qualified interpreters for deaf people; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact that this may have on the employment prospects of disabled people.

Anne McGuire: No changes have been made to the policy on Access to Work.

Benefits

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people claimed incapacity benefit in Beverley and Holderness in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants aged under 25 in the Beverley and Holderness parliamentary constituency at August each year from 1997 to 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 August  
			 1997 200 
			 1998 200 
			 1999 100 
			 2000 200 
			 2001 100 
			 2002 200 
			 2003 200 
			 2004 200 
			 2005 200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The parliamentary constituency figures for the years 1997 to 1999 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. "Claimant" figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance, including IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples from 1997 to 1999 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter.

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total number of staff employed by the Child Support Agency was in the UK during each of the last 18 months for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total number of staff employed ,by the Child Support Agency was in the UK during each of the last 18 months for which figures are available.
	The total number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the Child Support Agency in the UK during each of the last 18 months is detailed in the following table.
	The figures are based on the new Office of National Statistics (ONS) standard for use in the calculation of all public sector employment statistics.
	In line with other public sector organisations, the Department for Work and Pensions has implemented the new ONS definitions from November 2005. Historical data using this definition is now available backdated to February 2004, the baseline for the Department's efficiency challenge. The ONS definition has therefore been used to report the figures in the table below.
	
		
			  Month Full-time equivalent staff in post (ONS standard) 
		
		
			 2004  
			 August 10,465 
			 September 10,299 
			 October 10,125 
			 November 10,080 
			 December 10,041 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 9,963 
			 February 9,937 
			 March 9,985 
			 April 9,981 
			 May 9,971 
			 June 10,001 
			 July 10,047 
			 August 10,102 
			 September 10,269 
			 October 10,478 
			 November 10,672 
			 December 10,649 
			   
			 2006  
			 January 10,671 
		
	
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days training have been provided to staff at the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years; how many are planned to be provided in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days training have been provided to staff at the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years; how many are planned to be provided in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.
	The Child Support Agency has provided a range of training during the last five years covering technical, management, generic skills and information technology.
	The table below provides the information requested. The figures provided relate to classroom training only and do not include training given at the workstation. The figures for 2005/06 include planned training days in addition to training delivered.
	
		
			  Training days Staff trained 
		
		
			 2001–02 108,515 (22)— 
			 2002–03 133,199 13,143 
			 2003–04 78,629 11,366 
			 2004–05 67,687 11,376 
			 2005–06 66,704 5,826 
		
	
	(22) Not available.
	The decrease in training for 2005/06 has been caused by a number of reasons including awaiting the agreement of the Operational Implementation Plan, which leads to a new training programme for managers and other staff in the Child Support Agency. We have also seen a move towards blended learning and the use of e-learning with less emphasis on classroom training.
	Current planning estimates suggest that 387,228 technical training days will be delivered between March 06 and March 09 to support the recently announced Operational Improvement Plan.
	More detailed plans are still being finalised but the training will be for both new entrants and to support existing staff who may take on a different role on implementation of the new organisational design.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Disabled Volunteers

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend (a) Access to Work measures and (b) protection from discrimination to disabled volunteers who are working as part of a work experience or rehabilitation scheme.

Anne McGuire: Access to Work does not provide support to people who are engaged in unpaid voluntary work and there are currently no plans to extent Access to Work in this way.
	The first priority of Access to Work is to assist unemployed disabled people into paid employment, thereby helping to remove or reduce their dependence on benefits.
	We have asked the Disability Rights Commission to consider producing a voluntary code of practice on volunteering as we do not believe at this stage that it would be appropriate to extend the disability discrimination legislation to cover volunteers. There are likely to be practical difficulties in legislating to cover volunteers because of the diversity in the nature of volunteering and in the relationships between volunteers and the organisations that engage them.

Energy Sector (Industrial Injuries)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many industrial (a) injuries and (b) fatalities occurred in UK (i) nuclear, (ii) coal-fired and (iii) gas-fired power stations in each year since 1990.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) systems record the number of workplace injuries reported in Great Britain under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95). Across the five-year period 2000–01 to the provisional year 2004–05: 756 industrial injuries in Great Britain were reported to HSE that occurred in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 40.11 'Electricity generation'. Of these industrial injuries, six fatal injuries were reported. The table provides yearly breakdowns. Further disaggregation to identify the means of electricity generation (e.g. nuclear, coal/gas-fired) is not possible from centrally held statistics. The information provided covers the planning years 2000–01 to 2004–05 (provisional). Access to older data at the required level of detail is not readily available and would require the restoration of archived databases.
	
		Industrial (a) injuries and (b) fatalities in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 40.11 'Electricity generation' reported to HSE in Great Britain in each year since 2000–01
		
			  Employment status Industrial (a) injuries Of which (b) fatalities: 
		
		
			 2000–01 Workers 259 — 
			  Members of Public 3 — 
			  Total 262 — 
			 
			 2001–02 Workers 212 4 
			  Members of Public 3 — 
			  Total 215 4 
			 
			 2002–03 Workers 133 1 
			  Members of Public 2 — 
			  Total 135 1 
			 
			 2003–04 Workers 85 1 
			  Members of Public — — 
			  Total 85 1 
			 
			 2004–05(23) Workers 58 — 
			  Members of Public 1 — 
			  Total 59 — 
			 Total  756 6 
		
	
	(23) Provisional.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether in the case of an interim 60 per cent. payment being made under the Financial Assistance Scheme for a terminally ill member the balance will be paid to the spouse when wind-up is completed.

Stephen Timms: Any balance will be paid to the member's estate.

Incapacity Benefit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had their incapacity benefit stopped in each month during the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. Termination information is not available broken down on a monthly basis. The quarterly figures for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claim terminations are in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in the quarters shown
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 June 2002 to 31 August 2002 176,300 
			 1 September 2002 to 30 November 2002 185,700 
			 1 December 2002 to 28 February 2003 170,300 
			 1 March 2003 to 31 May 2003 165,900 
			 1 June 2003 to 31 August 2003 183,100 
			 1 September 2003 to 30 November 2003 186,900 
			 1 December 2003 to 29 February 2004 172,800 
			 1 March 2004 to 31 May 2004 174,700 
			 1 June 2004 to 31 August 2004 177,400 
			 1 September 2004 to 30 November 2004 176,200 
			 1 December 2004 to 28 February 2005 179,200 
			 1 March 2005 to 31 May 2005 132,300 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Terminations figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major increases in future quarters.
	3. Earlier quarters have been updated to include late notified terminations, including terminations for state pension.
	4. "Terminations" includes all terminations, whether initiated by the claimant or DWP; it includes cases where the claimant has died.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate 5 per cent. samples.

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many inspections local authorities made to (a) staffed and (b) unstaffed sunbed tanning retail outlets in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average interval between inspections was in that period;
	(2)  how many complaints local authorities received about (a) staffed and (b) unstaffed coin-operated sunbed tanning salons in 200405; and what assessment he has made of the nature of the complaints;
	(3)  what inspections of sunbed tanning retail outlets local authorities undertake; what form such inspections take; and what period of notice is given by local authorities for such an inspection;
	(4)  whether any local authority has taken enforcement action against a sunbed tanning salon since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect local authority (LA) health and safety enforcement data at the level of detail requested.
	Although most LAs submit voluntary annual returns on their health and safety enforcement activities through HSE to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), these are aggregate returns used by HSC to establish, compare and contrast broad levels of health and safety enforcement activity carried out by LAs in line with the Commission's published strategy. The returns, while providing numbers of inspections, complaints and details of enforcement action by LAs, do so only at a broad industry sector level.

Swansea Pension Centre

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment has been made of customer service performance at the Swansea Pension Centre.

Stephen Timms: The most recent data for Swansea are in the following table.
	
		
			  Target January 2006 YTD 
		
		
			 Pension credit applications clearance (days) 10 11.91 9.07 
			 State pension claims clearance (percentage) (24)95 98.89 97.81 
			 Telephone calls answered (percentage) 92 92.3 93.6 
			 Telephone calls blocked (percentage) (25)1 0.0 0.0 
		
	
	(24) Within 60 days.
	(25) Less than.

Unclaimed Benefits

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of (a) the percentage of those entitled to claim (i) housing benefit, (ii) income support, (iii) council tax benefit and (iv) pension credit who did not do so and (b) the amount that went unclaimed in each case in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount and percentage that went unclaimed in respect of income-related benefits in (a) 199798 and (b) the latest year for which information is available.

James Plaskitt: Estimates for the main income-related benefitsincome support/minimum income guarantee, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and income-based jobseeker's allowancefor eligible private household population in Great Britain, are available in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up. Copies of the latest publication, which describes patterns in take-up since 199798, together with past reports, are available in the Library.

Welfare Reform Green Paper

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the additional IT requirements of his Department to implement the proposals outlined in the Green Paper A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Work; and what his estimate is of the cost to his Department of meeting those requirements.

Stephen Timms: The publication of the welfare reform Green PaperA New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Workbegan the official consultation phase which will run until 21 April 2006. The Department welcomes any feedback or suggestions from interested parties as we look for the best way forward.
	We are unable to provide details of IT requirements or their costs until the period of consultation is completed and the final design of the proposals are agreed.

HEALTH

Acinetobacter

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of infections with the bacteria acinetobacter there were in the NHS in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005, broken down by region.

Jane Kennedy: The Health Protection Agency's (HPA) centre for infections receives reports of Acinetobacter species blood stream infections (bacteraemias) that are voluntarily reported by microbiology laboratories in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These laboratories include national health service microbiology laboratories and private microbiology laboratories.
	The number of cases of Acinetobacter species bacteraemias reported in England for 2004 and 2005 is shown in the table. Figures for 2005 are expected to rise due to late reporting.
	
		
			 Region 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Eastern England 109 96 
			 East Midlands 76 71 
			 London 166 189 
			 North East 75 70 
			 North West 128 165 
			 South East 92 59 
			 South West 92 107 
			 West Midlands 178 153 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 117 105 
			 England 1,033 1,015 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency

Agenda for Change

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the consistency of the outcomes of the Agenda for Change re-grading procedure in NHS trusts.

Liam Byrne: The responsibility for performance management of implementation of agenda for change, including consistency of implementation, rests with the relevant strategic health authorities. The NHS Staff Council has overall responsibility for consistency of the agenda for change pay system and has recently agreed guidance to employers on consistency monitoring.

Agenda for Change

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of decisions on pay under Agenda for Change have been disputed since 1 January 2004, broken down by NHS trust.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally, as requests for reviews of banding under agenda for change are dealt with locally. However, reports of progress on assimilation received by the Department so far suggest that the number of reviews at most trusts are modest in relation to the size of the workforce.

Alzheimer's Disease

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has made of the (a) efficacy and (b) side-effects of drug treatment options that would be prescribed as alternatives for people with Alzheimer's disease in the severe stages of the disease who are currently prescribed Ebixa;
	(2)  what assessments have been undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence of the cost-effectiveness of Alzheimer's disease medication compared to non-drug interventions, including the cost of extra care for patients, as part of its development of recommendations on such medication;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of whether appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence of Alzheimer's disease drugs takes current prescribing practice into account;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the methodologies used to develop the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's recommendations on Alzheimer's disease drug treatment.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE's) Appraisal Consultation Document for the appraisal review of drugs for Alzheimer's disease and accompanying documentation detail the appraisal committee's deliberations and the factors it has taken into account in reaching the position on which NICE has consulted. These documents are available on NICE'S website at www.nice.org.uk.
	The Department has responded to the appraisal consultations undertaken by NICE in February 2005 and January 2006 and copies of those responses are available in the Library.
	The methods NICE follows for developing its guidance are set out in its Guide to the Methods of Technology Appraisals. The methods guide are kept under constant review, and NICE aims to consult formally with stakeholder organisations including those representing patients and carers, health care professionals and manufacturers approximately every three years, before issuing an updated version. The latest version of the methods guide was also informed by an independent review by the World Health Organisation and is available on NICE's website at www.nice.org.uk.

Alzheimer's Disease

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence took adequate account of the views of (a) people with dementia and (b) their carers on the effectiveness of drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Kennedy: I understand that the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) follows a standard process when developing its guidance. This process encourages patient groups to register as stakeholders and to submit written evidence. Patient groups are also asked to nominate experts who can give their expert personal view by attending the initial appraisal committee discussion and/or providing written evidence to the committee. Evidence submitted by patient groups and patient experts is published on the NICE website throughout the guidance development process.

Ambulance Trusts

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects that the posts of chairmen in the ambulance trusts will be advertised.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 February 2006
	Advertising for the appointment of individuals to a pool of potential chairs of ambulance trusts began on 22 January 2006. If no changes to configuration are made, no appointments will be made and the pool will be disbanded.

Centrally-funded Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what total expenditure on centrally funded initiatives, services and special allocations has been in each year since 199798; and what anticipated expenditure on centrally funded services and special allocations will be in 200506;
	(2)  what the total expenditure has been on (a) centrally financed initiatives and services and (b) special allocations for prevention in each financial year since 199798; and what the allocation for each is expected to be in 200506.

Liam Byrne: Total expenditure, including allocations to national health service bodies, from the centrally funded initiatives services and special allocations programme is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Centrally funded initiatives services and special allocationstotal expenditure
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 5,495 
			 199899 6,598 
			 19992000 4,826 
			 200001 6,378 
			 200102 8,577 
			 200203 9,090 
			 200304 13,246 
			 200405 15,736 
		
	
	In 200506, the allocation is expected to be about 4 billion less as a result of primary care trust allocations being enhanced to include items previously included in these special allocations. In addition to the above central programme, the following sums for the HIV prevention special allocation were included in health authority (HA) initial allocations. From 200203 these funds were incorporated into HA baselines, which is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2: HIV prevention special allocation
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 52 
			 199899 53 
			 19992000 53 
			 200001 55 
			 200102 55

Clinical Practice (Alternative Pricing)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means best clinical practice and quality can be incorporated into a method of alternative pricing as stated in her speech to the NHS Confederation of 10 January 2006, how she envisages such a system of pricing would work in practice; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We keep the development of payment by results under review and we are considering how best to incentivise good clinical practice.

Community Hospitals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of (a) all guidance, instructions and requests sent to West Wiltshire primary care trust (PCT) on community hospitals since the publication of the Government White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say' and (b) all correspondence relating to community hospitals from the PCT received by the Department since publication of the White Paper.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 February 2006
	No specific guidance, instructions or requests have been issued to primary care trusts (PCTs) on community hospitals since the publication of the Government White Paper, 'Our health, our care, our say'.
	No correspondence has been received from West Wiltshire PCT relating to community hospitals since the publication of the White Paper.
	On February 16, departmental officials wrote to strategic health authorities and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.

Community Practitioners

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the ability of voluntary organisations to provide training, support and professional development for community practitioners, if such groups were to provide health services.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 January 2006
	Voluntary and independent sector organisations have traditionally been involved in providing an invaluable element of care and support in community settings. The standards applying to training and education in the voluntary sector are the same as applying in the national health service. Pre-registration education is the domain of the regulatory bodies who will have a direct interest in quality-assuring it. Other regulatory requirements like re- certification or re-registration will shape the continuing professional development available to individual professionals from their employers.

Counsellors/Psychotherapists

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to consult the voluntary sector in drawing up plans for the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists.

Jane Kennedy: As with the introduction of statutory regulation of any aspirant professional group, the Health Act 1999 requires a three-month public consultation before the appropriate legislation for regulation can be laid before Parliament.

Demographics

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the projected increases in the population of England upon demand and capacity in the national health service.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 13 February 2006
	When preparing for each spending review, the Department undertakes an assessment of requirements and funding pressures. This would include a consideration of growth in activity, pay and prices, any movement in the costs of prescribing, provisions and the cost of capital. A key element in our assessment is an estimation of the impact of demographic changes, in particular, the impact of population growth on the demand for services.
	The revenue allocations for 200607 and 200708 take account of projected population changes. We have used the best available population data so that the national health service can properly take account of the challenges faced in areas with growing populations.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the items valued at over 100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by her Department in the past 12 months.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not differentiate between stolen, missing or lost equipment. The losses recorded for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005, with a value of over 100.00 are shown in the table.
	
		Items lost or stolen (value over 100) for period January 2005December 2005
		
			 Description Value () 
		
		
			 Toshiba portage laptop 1,444.36 
			 Toshiba tecra laptop 1,217.42 
			 Compaq/Ipaq pocket PC 440.62 
			 Toshiba portage laptop 1,444.36 
			 Toshiba notebook laptop 1,444.36 
			 Toshiba laptop and mobile phone charger 1,313.90 
			 Toshiba laptop 1,302.95 
			 Nokia mobile phone 122.21 
			 Nokia mobile phone 119.28 
			 Toshiba portege laptop 1,501.97 
			 HP Ipaq 443.70 
			 HP DeskJet printer 183.00 
			 Toshiba tecra laptop and Nokia mobile phone 1,454.14 
			 Compaq/HP PDA 521.35 
			 NEC Projector 1,230.33 
			 Nokia mobile phone 119.28 
			 Toshiba portege laptop 1,343.84 
			 Toshiba tecra laptop 1,127.62 
			 Toshiba lifebook laptop 1,127.62 
			 Toshiba laptop, 3 Compaq laptops, HP PDA and  3 handsets 5,068.62 
			 Fujitsu Lifebook laptop 1,379.81 
			 Toshiba tecra laptop 1,157.90 
			 Toshiba portege laptop 1,121.07 
			 Toshiba portege laptop 1,119.68 
			 Fujitsu Lifebook laptop 1,119.68 
			 Toshiba tecra 1,067.39 
			 Total 29,936.46 
		
	
	The Department takes the security and protection of its assets very seriously. Its policy and procedures are constantly reviewed. As a further deterrent, all Departmental portable equipment is forensically marked with an invisible dye called Smartwater. This also assists in the recovery of lost or stolen equipment. The Department's security unit continues to raise security awareness among its staff, including the secure handling, transportation and storage of portable equipment.

Domiciliary Oxygen

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many complaints Ministers in her Department have received about the domiciliary oxygen service since contracts were awarded to regional oxygen supply companies on 1 February;
	(2)  how many complaints her Department received about the domiciliary oxygen supply service in the five years to December 2005.

Jane Kennedy: From 1 February to 15 February, the Department received three letters of complaint about domiciliary oxygen supply. For the earlier period, December 2000 through to December 2005, information on the first two years is not held centrally and for the remaining three years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Early Retirement

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of her Department's employees have taken early retirement in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		Number of Department of Health employees who have taken early retirement 199798 to 200405
		
			  Number of staff 
		
		
			 199798 30 
			 199899 26 
			 19992000 15 
			 200001 (26)116 
			 200102 17 
			 200203 (27)120 
			 200304 (28)138 
			 200405 (29)179 
		
	
	(26) This includes 96 staff who left following the closure of Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre, Birmingham.
	(27) This includes 108 staff who left following the shifting the balance of power reorganisation resulting in the closure of the Department's former regional offices.
	(28) This includes 69 staff who left on approved early retirement. This was offered to staff aged 50 and over as a pre-redundancy measure during the Department's change programme and to 54 displaced staff who were affected by the closure of the Department's regional offices.
	(29) This includes 169 staff who left on voluntary early retirement/severance This was offered to displaced staff as a pre-redundancy measure during the Department's change Programme.

Elder Abuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to protect older people who receive care in their own homes from elder abuse;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to minimise the risk of elder abuse in health and social care services.

Liam Byrne: To minimise abuse and neglect of older people, the Department has been active in promoting better and more consistent standards of care through the publication and implementation of the national service framework for older people and introduction of the national minimum standards for a range of services, provided to older people in their own homes or in care settings. Employers in regulated social care services have a statutory duty to ensure safety of older people by training staff to prevent service users being harmed or be placed at risk of harm.
	For non-regulated services, the statutory guidance No Secrets provides a national framework for local councils and partner agencies to use in developing local multi-agency codes of practice to prevent and tackle abuse. The guidance encourages councils to publicise their adult protection procedures so that all older people are aware of how to seek help if needed.
	On 7 February, I announced that the General Social Care Council is undertaking a consultation on registering the social care work force. This will allow us to set standards for people seeking social care jobs and to take sanctions against people if they fall below those standards of registration. A well trained and fully registered work force will enable older people, parents and children to have confidence in the people who care for them.

Elder Abuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to facilitate access to independent advocacy for older people vulnerable to abuse.

Liam Byrne: Employers in regulated social care have a statutory duty to involve and keep record of service users' relatives and representatives and to take into consideration the national minimum standards, for facilitating access to advocacy services for older people in their care.
	The Department has made it clear to local councils and the national health service through the publication of the single assessment process and the national service framework for older people that they should bring in independent advocacy where appropriate.
	There has been substantial funding made available by the Department to support the development and expansion of self and citizen advocacy services in learning disability, 1.3 million in the last three years. There is 0.9 million available to advocacy groups until March 2006. Funding for advocacy service providers has also been provided through Section 64 grants for projects. The approximate total amount given to advocacy projects for adults was 420,000 in 200304, 268,000 in 200405 and 397,000 in 2005.

General Practitioners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what incentives there will be to extend the opening hours of general practitioner surgeries;
	(2)  whether the general practitioner contract will have to be renegotiated to accommodate the proposals in the Health and Social Care White Paper to extend opening hours of general practitioner surgeries.

Liam Byrne: The existing primary medical care contracting framework already allows primary care trusts (PCTs) to offer incentives both to new or existing providers to provide opening hours which suit patients' preferences. Following publication of the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say the Department is reviewing these arrangements with the aim of ensuring that more patients can enjoy quick and convenient access to primary medical care. NHS Employers will then be mandated to discuss changes to the general medical services contract for 200708 onwards with the British Medical Association's general practitioners committee.

General Practitioners

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of patient satisfaction levels with GP out-of-hours services.

Liam Byrne: Information on patient satisfaction levels with general practitioner out-of-hours services are not collected centrally. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring they provide or secure high quality out-of-hours services for their population. Service providers work to a set of national quality requirements, which include regular audits of patient satisfaction that must be reported to the PCT.

General Practitioners

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS general practitioners have been employed in the Uxbridge constituency in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. However, the table shows figures for all practitioners employed for the organisations that have served the Uxbridge constituency from 1997 to June 2005.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers)(30) for selected organisations, 1997-June 2005England -- Estimated full-time equivalents
		
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 June 2005 
		
		
			 Q04 North West London 1,107 1,097 1,055 1,044 1,064 1,056 1,087 1,131 1,141 
			 QA2 Hillingdon HA 127 132 128 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 4GP22 Hillingdon PCG n/a n/a n/a 129 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 131 129 132 140 134 
		
	
	n/a=data not applicable
	(30) All practitioners (excluding retainers) includes contracted general practitioners, general medical service others, personal medical service others and GP registrars.
	Notes:
	1. Full-time equivalent (FTE) data has been estimated using the results from the 199293 General Medical Practice Workload Survey
	For 19942003 full-time=1.00 FTE; three quarter time=0.69 FTE; job share=0.65 FTE; and half time=0.60 FTE
	For 2004All GPsfull-time 1.0 FTE; part time=0.6 FTE, and therefore may not be fully comparable with previous years.
	2. Primary care trusts(PCT)/primary care groups (PCG) did not come into existence until 1 April 2000, prior to this data was only available at health authority (HA) level which does not necessarily compare with present day organisational structure
	3. Data as at 1 October 199799, 30 September 200004 and 30 June 2005
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Medical Council

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the General Medical Council's complaints mechanism; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Chief Medical Officer is currently undertaking a review of matters relating to medical regulation which will address this issue. A statement will be made shortly.

Health Services (Wakefield)

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has allocated for drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia in (a) Wakefield constituency and (b) England in each year from 1997 to 2005.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 February 2006
	This information requested is not held centrally.

Home Oxygen Service

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the New Home Oxygen Service introduced on 1 February.

Jane Kennedy: There has been some disruption to the planned six-month programme, which began on 1 February 2006, to support the transfer of patients receiving home oxygen supplies to new suppliers. We have already taken action to get that planned programme back on track and we are continuing to work with the national health service and suppliers to monitor progress. When fully introduced, the new arrangements will provide a modern service to patients with improved access to a wider range of oxygen equipment that can do much to improve their quality of life.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times she has met the manufacturers of the human papillomavirus vaccine, to discuss its introduction, following the submission of the first Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency.

Jane Kennedy: The manufacturers of the human papillomavirus vaccine has consulted with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for national scientific advice in 2004 and 2005. European scientific advice, in which the MHRA acted as coordinator, was also provided in 2005. The MHRA has not met with the manufacturers following submission of the marketing authorisation application to the European Medicines Agency.

Independent Sector Provision

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) elective procedures and (b) other procedures financed by the public purse she expects to be provided by the independent sector by (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010.

Liam Byrne: It is expected that around 10 per cent. of elective procedures and diagnostic scans in the national health service will be carried out by independent sector providers, including second wave independent sector treatment centres by 2008.

Independent Treatment Centres

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff in each region are on secondment to independent sector treatment centres.

Liam Byrne: As of January 2006, 7.1 whole-time equivalent (WTE) doctors and 0.8 WTE nurses are on secondment to independent sector treatment centre projects in the areas shown in the table.
	
		
			  Split of WTEs seconded 
			  Doctors Nurses 
		
		
			 North Bradford 5.2  
			 Kidderminster 1.6  
			 Portsmouth 0.3 8.0 
			 Total 7.1 8.0

Influenza Vaccine

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of the additional 200,000 doses of winter influenza vaccine ordered by her Department went to Southend.

Caroline Flint: Contingency influenza vaccine is delivered on request. No primary care trust or surgery in the Southend area has requested any of this stock.
	The Department wrote to immunisation coordinators on 27 January reminding them that this vaccine was available to order and how to order it.

In-patient Televisions (Subtitles)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make it her policy that no new in-patient television systems should be installed without the facility to offer subtitles;
	(2)  when she expects all hospitals to be able to provide subtitles on pay-to-view televisions;
	(3)  which hospitals provide pay-to-view patient televisions on which subtitles are (a) available and (b) unavailable.

Jane Kennedy: There are now over 77,000 bedside televisions installed at over 155 national health service hospitals. The majority of these have the capability of providing subtitles, where they are available from the broadcaster, and provide subtitles on some channels.
	It is the responsibility of the local NHS trust to decide whether subtitles are provided on its bedside televisions.

Medicines

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the targets are being met for granting marketing authorisations set out in the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency business plan for 200506 for over-the-counter medicines; and how many application files are open.

Jane Kennedy: In the published business plan for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for 200506, assessment time targets are given for various types of licensing work, including variations to licences and new licences based on abridged dossiers. Specific targets are not given for over-the-counter medicines because these would be included with the abridged dossier applications.
	On the 21 February 2006, there were 2,490 new product licence applications at various stages of assessment of which 356 related to products potentially for over-the-counter supply.
	I am aware that the MHRA's performance regarding licence and variation approval times during the last nine months has been affected by a combination of adverse factors including increases in workload, difficulties in recruiting professional assessment staff, especially medically-qualified staff, and transitional implementation problems during the introduction of a new information management system. Though statistics for the full year 200506 are not yet available, it is likely that some of the target assessment times given in the plan will not be met.

Medicines

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average and (b) longest time for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to process (i) new, (ii) abridged and (iii) variation applications for marketing authorisations was in the last period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published statistics for the processing of product licence applications and variations during the full year 200405. The published figures relate to the total time taken from receipt of an application to its determination (grant or refusal) and also for the net time in working days taken by the MHRA. Net times for approval do not include the time taken for the applicant to respond to the MHRA's questions or for correction of the application.
	For abridged new licence applications in 200405, the gross and net times were 288 days and 122 days respectively. August 2004 had the longest times during 200405 for this type of work at 660 days and 180 days respectively.
	For licence variations in 200405, the net average time taken was approximately 50 days. The longest time taken exceeded 450 days in a small number of cases, including the time taken for the applicant to supply additional or amending information.
	For the relatively small number of completely new medicines, for example those containing new drugs and with the potential for meeting unmet medical needs in major diseases, the MHRA during this period has maintained its record of assessing these in under 40 days.

Medicines

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) longest and (b) average period the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency took to process (i) an abridged application and (ii) a variation was in (A) 2004 and (B) 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published statistics for the processing of product licence applications and variations for the full years 200304 and 200405. The published figures relate to the total time taken from receipt of an application to its determination (grant or refusal) and also for the net time in working days taken by the MHRA. Net times for approval do not include the time taken for the applicant to respond to the MHRA's questions or for correction of the application.
	For abridged new licence applications in 200304 the gross and net average times were 228 days and 113 days, and in 200405 were 288 days and 122 days respectively. July 2003 had the longest gross and net times for that year at 370 days and 140 days respectively. Likewise, August 2004 had the longest times during 200405 at 660 days and 180 days respectively.
	For licence variations in 200304 and 200405 the net average time taken was approximately 50 days in both years. The longest time taken, exceeded 450 days in a small number of cases, including the time taken for the applicant to supply additional or amending information.

Medicines

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) applications for marketing authorisation for over-the-counter products, (b) abridged applications and (c) variations were received by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in each year since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) collects and publishes statistics on numbers of applications and processing times according to its April to March reporting years. The most recent full year for which figures are available is 200405.
	Marketing authorisation (product licence) applications for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are almost invariably considered as a type of abridged application and so the figures provided in the table for abridged applications include the numbers of OTC medicine applications. The total numbers of all types of licence variations exceeds 20,000 each year. The figures provided in the table relate only to those variations to the licences OTC medicines.
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Abridged dossier product licence applications 1,160 1,244 1,673 1,119 
			 Product licence applications for OTC medicines 161 226 175 122 
			 Variations to OTC product licences 4,102 4,136 4,217 4,661

Ministerial Speech

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place on her Department's website a copy of her speech to the annual dinner of Royal Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on 25 November 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State gave some informal comments to the annual dinner of Royal Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. No formal record was kept of her remarks.

National Health Research Strategy

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written statement of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 57WS, on the national health research strategy, what the estimated cost is of a national expert advice line providing advice (a) 24-hours a day and (b) during normal office hours to researchers on interpreting the law relating to medical research.

Jane Kennedy: The national health research strategy does not include plans to establish a national expert advice line providing advice 24 hours a day. The national advice service is to operate through e-mail and a telephone helpline, backed up by an electronic interface that links it to national regulatory experts. At this stage, subject to further scoping and piloting, it is estimated that the cost of delivering the advice service during normal office hours will be not more than 50,000 a year. Most of it will be found by organising existing resources better.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 595W, on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), when she expects the review of the process for selecting topics for NICE's programme to be completed; and when she expects the consultation document to be published.

Jane Kennedy: The Department will be undertaking a three month public consultation shortly on the proposed changes to the process for selecting topics for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's future work programmes.

National Programme for Information Technology

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether local service provider deployment activity as part of the National Programme for Information Technology is being rescheduled, with particular reference to the software supplier iSoft; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: In the Eastern, North East, and North West and West Midlands cluster areas, where iSoft solutions are being deployed, some 900 sites have had iSoft solutions installed, and these are being used by more than 25,000 users. Some local service provider (LSP) local system deployment activity is being re-scheduled as a result of LSPs and their subcontractors, including iSoft, taking longer than originally anticipated to deliver software solutions.
	However, there is no single new deadline. The national programme for information technology is a hugely complex ten-year programme which will see many thousands of further deployments and associated deadlines. Because contracts under the programme are structured so that financing and completion risk rests with the LSPs and their subcontractors, those who deliver get paid; the corollary also applies.

Needlestick Injuries

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much compensation has been paid to health care workers arising from needlestick injuries in each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of the risk to health care workers of needlestick injuries; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the cost of fitting safety devices to needles to reduce the number of injuries suffered by health care workers; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent discussions she has had regarding needlestick injuries suffered by health care workers;
	(5)  how many needlestick injuries were suffered by health care workers in each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answers 30 November 2005
	Details of compensation payments and the number of needlestick injuries to health care workers are not collected centrally but held by individual employers.
	The NHS Pensions Agency administers the NHS injury benefit scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health. The injury benefit scheme is a no-blame income protection scheme designed to provide benefits for national health service employees who suffer loss of earnings or earning ability as a result of an injury, disease or condition caused wholly or mainly by the duties of their NHS employment. The NHS Pensions Agency does not hold statistics on the amount of compensation paid to health care workers for needlestick injuries.
	The Health Protection Agency (HPA) carries out surveillance of needlestick injuries and occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses. The most recent report was published in January 2005 and is available on the HPA's website at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/bbv/s_report.htm
	All NHS employers are required to carry out risk assessments, including the risk of needlestick injuries, as part of their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1977 (as amended by the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992).
	No assessment has been made of the cost of fitting safety devices to needles in the NHS in England. The industry has made great progress over the last two years resulting in no significant difference in unit cost. This allows employers to introduce the safer devices in areas where risk assessment indicates it would be beneficial for the safety of staff and patients. Details of products available in this country can be found on the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency website at: www.pasa.nhs.uk/medicalconsumables/sharps/
	There has been no recent discussions involving Health Ministers regarding needlestick injuries to health care workers. NHS employers has the remit to share good practice and advise NHS employers on this and similar health and safety issues.

NHS (Private Providers)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether private providers who carry out NHS work will be subject to the NHS complaints procedure.

Jane Kennedy: National health service patients who are referred for treatment in independent sector treatment centres have the same right to complain as patients who are treated by NHS providers. Where an NHS trust or primary care trust (PCT) makes arrangements for the provision of services with an independent provider, it must ensure that the independent provider has in place arrangements for the handling and consideration of complaints about any matter connected with its provision of services as if the NHS (Complaints) Regulations 2004 applied to it. The responsibility for handling complaints regarding commissioning rests with the appropriate PCT.

NHS Budget

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was paid to non-NHS providers in 200405.

Jane Kennedy: 5.3 per cent. of the national health service budget was paid to non-NHS providers in 200405 for a wide range of services mostly non-elective, which includes expenditure of 78.8 million on centrally procured elective treatment.

NHS Direct

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people accessed NHS Direct (a) by telephone and (b) online in each year since its inception.

Liam Byrne: Information from 199899 onwards on the number of calls received nationally and the number of visits to NHS Direct Online are available in the statistical supplement to the chief executive's report to the national health service, which is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk.

NHS Direct

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of calls to NHS Direct resulted in the referral of a patient to (a) a doctor and (b) another part of the national health service in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 January 2006
	This information is not centrally held. It may be available from NHS Direct special health authority and you may wish to contact the chairman of NHS Direct for details.

NHS Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS per head in each local government area in the last year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 January 2006
	Information is not available in the format requested.
	200405 expenditure per head of resident population by primary care trusts in England is shown in a table which has been placed in the Library.
	I regret the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 460W was incorrect.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 469W, on NHS finance, for what reasons it is not appropriate to publish in-year monitoring data on an ongoing basis; and what assessment she has made of how publication of data would impact on the operational management of the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: In-year financial monitoring data is not audited, and is subject to change. It could give a misleading view of the financial position of national health service bodies.
	In addition, in-year monitoring data is used for the operational management of the NHS. It is used by strategic health authorities (SHAs) to inform their performance management discussions with NHS trusts and primary care trusts and by the Department in performance discussions with SHAs. Routine publication of the data by the Department during the financial year may adversely affect the nature of these discussions, and the ability of the Department and SHAs to discharge their performance management function.

Nurses (South West London)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses per 100 beds there have been in each hospital in South West London in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nurses per 100 beds in the South West London area by specified trusts as at 30 September each specified year -- Headcount per 100 beds
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 157 156 142 179 205 212 
			 Kingston and District Community NHS Trust 51 38 84 80 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 171 214 178 186 152 177 180 185 
			 Mayday HealthCare NHS Trust 97 102 189 144 139 140 150 133 
			 Merton and Sutton Community Healthcare NHS Trust 34 32 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton NHS Trust 220 80 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 186 191 199 215 211 243 270 292 
			 South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust 85 76 85 91 85 89 88 103 
			 South West London Community NHS Trust n/a n/a 56 45 65 n/a n/a n/a 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 133 129 136 172 176 190 235 267 
			 St. Helier NHS Trust 173 166 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a=not applicable
	Notes:
	1. Beds numbers are based on an average of those hospital beds that are available overnight over a 12 month period between 1 April and 31 May of the following year
	2. Nurses do not include community nursing staff
	Source:
	KH03 annual beds census
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Nursing Agencies

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 September 2005, Official Report, column 284W, on agency nurses, what estimate she has made of the total number of nursing agencies not registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Liam Byrne: I am informed by the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that under Section 4 (5) of the Care Standards Act 2000, a nurses agency means
	an employment agency or employment business, being (in either case) a business which consists of or includes supplying, or providing services for the purposes of supplying, registered nurses, registered midwives or registered health visitors.
	If a nurses agency is operating as described and is not registered with CSCI, then it is operating illegally. No estimate has been made of the total number of agencies operating illegally.

Outsourcing

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the business case for the outsourcing of (a) the NHS Pensions Agency, (b) the NHS Logistics Authority, (c) the Dental Practice Board and (d) the Prescription Pricing Authority; and what alternatives were considered in each case.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 February 2006
	No decisions have been made to further outsource either the NHS Pensions Agency, NHS Logistics Authority or the Prescription Pricing Authority. The Department is in the process of considering options for these organisations that meet the Government's objectives as set out in the report, Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arms Length Bodies (July 2004) which is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/32/50/4123250.pdf.
	In the case of the Dental Practice Board, a decision has been made to expand the current outsourcing contract with Astron for the remainder of its term. The assessment of this option considered the alternatives of:
	doing nothing;
	doing the minimum, that is, performing the processes in-house and
	returning the administration of dental payments to the primary care trusts.
	In future, the Business Service Authority will follow standard national health service practice and make available business cases for all major investment and operational decisions.

Outsourcing

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why the contract for provision of services supplied by the NHS Pensions Agency is not going out to competitive tender.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 February 2006
	In January 2002, the NHS Pensions Agency entered into a partial outsourcing of its services with Paymaster (1836) Ltd. The tendering process was fully competitive and conformed to European Union procurement procedures.
	Within the contract is a provision to move at some point in the future to full outsourcing. The terms of the contract agreed with Paymaster (1836) Ltd. require that the NHS Pensions Agency must first allow them to bid for the full outsourcing. Only if this bid is not value for money can the agency tender for the services on a competitive basis. At present, the bid from Paymaster (1836) Ltd. is still being prepared.

Paediatric Continence Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact of practice-based commissioning will have on the availability of integrated paediatric continence services in England.

Liam Byrne: There has not been an assessment of the effect of practice based commissioning on the availability of integrated paediatric continence services.
	Under practice based commissioning, practices have to work with their primary care trusts (PCTs) in the commissioning of services. All new services proposed by practices are expected to fit with local strategic priorities and have to be considered and approved by their respective PCTs.
	For children this will also link into the children and young people's plan and children's trust identified priorities.

Paediatric Intensive Care Beds

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she plans to increase the number of paediatric intensive care beds available in hospitals in England;
	(2)  how many paediatric intensive care beds have been available in hospitals in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) hospitals serving the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: No. The number of paediatric intensive care beds available is a matter for local decision, taking account of demand. This is variable, with more beds provided over the winter months when the incidence of severe respiratory conditions in young children increases. The majority of paediatric intensive care episodes are non-elective. Units, therefore allow for some 20 per cent. spare capacity to be available to respond to anticipated but unpredictable emergency demand. The average number of paediatric intensive care beds available is shown in the table.
	
		Average number of paediatric intensive care beds, including unoccupied beds
		
			  England Tees Valley Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland 
		
		
			 199798 265 3 3 
			 199899 273 4 4 
			 19992000 282 3 3 
			 200001 290 3 3 
			 200102 303 3 3 
			 200203 254 3 3 
			 200304 239 3 3 
			 200405 283 4 4 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03.

Paper Prescriptions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to replace the use of paper prescriptions by use of IT.

Jane Kennedy: The electronic prescription service (EPS), formerly known as the electronic transmission of prescriptions, being developed by NHS Connecting for Health will, when fully implemented, allow electronic transmission of a prescription between prescribers and pharmacists. EPS is being rolled in phases with two releases of EPS compliant general practitioner and pharmacy software. Release one, currently being deployed requires paper prescriptions to be maintained. However, Release two, includes the use of electronic prescriptions. When Release two is fully deployed, it is expected that electronic prescriptions will become the norm, with paper prescriptions being issued only when requested by the patient. NHS Connecting for Health is working towards 100 per cent. implementation of the EPS by the end of 2007.

Psychology

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) chartered psychologists and (b) chartered educational psychologists are practising in England.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally, but there were 7,051 qualified clinical psychology staff as at 30 September 2004.

Washable Keyboards

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's policy is on the supply of washable keyboards in the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: The purchase of computer equipment is a local responsibility. We do not promote particular products but the rapid review panel is available to consider new products that may contribute to infection control and prevention and comment on the evidence supporting their use.

Working with Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duty is placed on local authorities to report to her Department incidents of individuals with a record of sex offending working with children.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1621W, by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast-Sligo Road

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department has discussed the improvement of the Belfast-Sligo Road with (a) the National Roads Authority and (b) the Irish Government.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 2 March 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about whether the Department has discussed the improvement of the Belfast-Sligo Road with (a) the National Roads Authority and (b) the Irish Government.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	I can confirm that Roads Service Board members meet with their counterparts in the National Roads Authority (NRA) and a representative of the Republic of Ireland's (RoI) Department of Transport approximately three times per year through the Cross Border Roads Steering Group. Chairmanship of these meetings is shared between myself and the Chief Executive of the NRA.
	During recent meetings, the respective major road improvement programmes in RoI and Northern Ireland, have been discussed to ensure the respective programmes are compatible. These discussions have paid particular attention to proposals for the cross border routes which include the A4 / N16 Belfast to Enniskillen to Sligo road.
	I can assure you that we will continue to monitor the development and implementation of the respective roads programmes, ensuring that both road authorities are kept updated on any proposed changes.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Concessionary Travel

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that free travel for senior citizens in Northern Ireland is available to people of both sexes at the same age.

Shaun Woodward: Under the current rules of the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme, free travel is provided to Northern Ireland residents who are aged 65 and over. The eligible age is the same for both genders.

Crime Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the incidence of crime and disorder was in each (a) ward, (b) county and (c) constituency in Northern Ireland in 200405.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service for Northern Ireland do not record crime figures in the format requested. Incidents of crime are recorded by police District Command Unit and a monthly update is posted on the police website at www.psni.police.uk .A copy of the full PSNI Statistical Report for the year 200405 is also available on the website.

Department for Education (Running Costs)

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the running costs of the Department for Education in Northern Ireland were in 200405.

Angela Smith: The running costs of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland in 200405 were 22.4 million, or 1.4 per cent. of overall education expenditure of 1,628.2 million in that year.

Motoring Offences

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) males and (b) females were convicted of motoring offences in each district command unit in Northern Ireland in 2004, broken down by offence.

David Hanson: The information provided in the response of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1263W, currently remains the most up-to-date available. At that time it was envisaged that 2004 statistics would be available in early 2006, however an on-going data validation exercise of the data source for these statistics has led to an unavoidable delay. The information will be made available to the House as soon as possible.

Parliamentary Boundary Commission

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission to submit its report.

David Hanson: Advice from the Secretary to the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission is that the report on its fifth review of parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland will be published this autumn.

Pre-school Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding was allocated to (a) 0 to three and (b) three to five years education in each (i) ward and (ii) county in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The information is not available in the format requested. The compulsory school age in Northern Ireland is any age between four years two months and 16. What I can provide is funding allocated to pre-school education in Northern Ireland, which can range from age two to compulsory school age.
	In the 200506 financial year recurrent funding was allocated as follows:
	Statutory Sector
	Local Management of Schools (LMS) funding in Northern Ireland does not disaggregate nursery class or year group funding from primary schools' budgets. However in the 200506 financial year, under the LMS formula, 15,428,957 was allocated to nursery schools only.
	Voluntary Sector
	A total of 7,829,000 was allocated to the education and library boards to fund places for children in their final pre-school year, (aged between three years two months and four years two months at the start of the academic year), in voluntary/private settings.

Roads Service

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by Roads Service in each year since 2000, broken down by district council area.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to these questions.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 2 March 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how much was spent by the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service in each year since 2000, broken down by district council area.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	The following table provides details of Roads Service expenditure for the period requested.
	I hope this information is useful.
	
		Roads Service expenditure from 200001 to 200405 (000)
		
			  Total years 
			 District council 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Antrim 3,996 4,892 13,688 15,042 8,865 
			 Coleraine 5,092 5,632 4,673 6,310 6,515 
			 Limavady 2,908 4,328 12,189 7,045 5,771 
			 Moyle 1,926 1,278 1,661 1,959 2,168 
			 Ballymoney 3,093 2,600 2,944 3,032 3,390 
			 Londonderry 6,492 8,210 10,299 10,148 14,980 
			 Ballymena 8,042 6,426 4,970 6,078 6,279 
			 Larne 2,439 2,172 2,817 4,388 2,966 
			 Belfast 21,092 25,918 24,392 23,338 35,283 
			 Castlereagh 3,450 3,739 2,689 2,991 3,730 
			 Newtownabbey 4,453 4,608 5,987 8,085 9,370 
			 Carrickfergus 1,977 2,121 2,038 1,977 2,046 
			 North Down 3,350 3,527 5,015 4,570 3,719 
			 Lisburn 5,532 6,379 7,533 9,290 10,466 
			 Ards 3,377 3,777 6,095 7,232 5,520 
			 Armagh 5,648 5,428 5,223 6,429 8,424 
			 Newry and Mourne 5,726 7,108 6,441 14,849 27,489 
			 Banbridge 3,264 3,923 4,837 7,853 7,708 
			 Craigavon 6,915 7,848 6,401 7,202 9,353 
			 Down 4,476 5,992 5,169 5,808 6,763 
			 Magherafelt 2,854 2,939 3,329 4,086 4,993 
			 Omagh 5,498 6,485 7,449 8,414 12,374 
			 Strabane 5,903 8,960 12,185 6,885 7,586 
			 Cookstown 2,749 2,947 3,137 3,955 3,974 
			 Fermanagh 6,265 6,209 6,717 8,624 10,484 
			 Dungannon 4,680 5,344 5,404 7,784 8,953 
			 Over totals 131,197 148,790 173,282 193,374 229,169

Roadworks (Limavady)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what roadworks have been undertaken on Windyhill Road, Limavady within the past 12 months; and what the duration has been of each programme of work.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 3 March 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding what roadworks have been undertaken on Windyhill Road, Limavady within the past 12 months; and what has been the duration of each programme of work.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	I can confirm that within the past 12 months, Roads Service carried out one improvement scheme on the Windyhill Road. This scheme was completed over an 8-week period during June/July 2005.
	I can also advise that on 27 February 2006, Roads Service commenced work on further identified improvement and resurfacing schemes along this route. These schemes, which involve working at 5 separate locations along Windyhill Road will be completed over an eight-week period, during which time the road will be closed to through traffic. The work has been programmed to keep traffic disruption to a minimum and provision has been made to ensure local access is facilitated.
	I hope this information is useful.

School Closures

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in Northern Ireland he expects to close in the next (a) 12 months and (b) five years.

Angela Smith: Proposals to close a school are subject to the publication of a development proposal which ensures that all interested parties are informed, and have the opportunity to comment, before a decision is made.
	The Department has approved the closure of four primary schools, three of which are due to close in August 2006 and one to close in August 2007. The Department has also approved the closure of one post-primary school to take effect in August 2006.
	There are currently six other recently published development proposals for the closure of primary schools, with five proposed to take effect in August 2006 and one in August 2007, on which decisions have not yet been made.
	In addition, the Department has approved previously the amalgamations of 21 primary schools into nine schools which are planned to take effect in the coming few years. A development proposal for the amalgamation of two post-primary schools is currently under consideration.

School Meals

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children are entitled to free school meals in each (a) ward, (b) county and (c) constituency in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Information on free school meal entitlement of pupils at primary schools in Northern Ireland is not available at ward level. Analysis based on the location of schools is not available in respect of counties, but is provided below for education and library board areas and constituencies.
	
		Children entitled to free school meals 2005/06, by education and library board area
		
			 Education and library board Pupils entitled to free school meals 
		
		
			 Belfast 14,702 
			 Western 14,399 
			 North Eastern 9,516 
			 South Eastern 8,423 
			 Southern 13,232 
			 Northern Ireland total 60,272 
		
	
	
		Children entitled to free school meals 2005/06, by parliamentary constituency
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Pupils entitled to free school meals 
		
		
			 Belfast East 2,071 
			 Belfast North 5,738 
			 Belfast South 2,037 
			 Belfast West 7,620 
			 East Antrim 1,723 
			 East Londonderry 2,571 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 3,204 
			 Foyle 7,566 
			 Lagan Valley 1,842 
			 Mid Ulster 3,338 
			 Newry and Armagh 4,921 
			 North Antrim 2,696 
			 North Down 1,108 
			 South Antrim 1,871 
			 South Down 3,111 
			 Strangford 1,397 
			 Upper Bann 3,549 
			 West Tyrone 3,909 
			 Northern Ireland Total 60,272 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Figures relate to year one to year seven pupils in primary schools and pupils at post-primary schools. Figures for pupils at special schools entitled to free school meals are not collected.

School Funding

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the money for the education strand of the Children's Package will be distributed to schools.

Angela Smith: The main education strand of the Children and Young People's Funding Package under which schools will directly benefit, is the 'Extended Schools' element. Some 10 million per year (200607 and 200708 financial years) has been earmarked for this purpose and this funding will be focused on schools in disadvantaged areas.
	My Department is currently working with other Departments and partner organisations to develop a means of identifying those schools to be funded and the associated level of funding. It is planned to complete this task within the next few weeks and funding will issue as soon as possible thereafter.

Sperrin Lakeland Trust

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what costs were incurred by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust as a result of the severance package of the former Chief Executive of the Trust.

Shaun Woodward: Immediately following the initial report on clinical governance in Sperrin Lakeland Trust, the then Chief Executive took premature retirement. As a result he received a payment of salary in lieu of notice and early payment of his pension entitlement.
	The payment in lieu of notice totalled 26,615. The cost payable by the Trust to the HPSS Superannuation Fund was a total of 408,768, this sum not being a payment to the Chief Executive. The lump sum and annual pension for future years will be paid from the Superannuation Fund.
	Throughout the Trust has met its legal and employment contract obligations, within the terms and conditions of the contract of employment.

Traffic Congestion (South Belfast)

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to tackle rush hour traffic congestion on the Saintfield and Ormeau roads leading to and from south Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of Roads Service, Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 3 March 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about whether his Department has any plans to tackle rush hour traffic congestion on the Saintfield and Ormeau roads leading to and from south Belfast.
	I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	You will be aware that the Department for Regional Development published the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP) in November 2004, which outlines transport proposals for the Belfast Metropolitan Area up to 2015. The transport plan proposes a balanced approach across the range of transport modes, and provides for greater use of public transport and greater levels of walking and cycling, whilst also supporting an appropriate level of movement of cars and goods vehicles.
	Within the plan period to 2015, it is not proposed to introduce any large scale road schemes on the Saintfield or Ormeau roads as the proposed public transport improvements along this route will help to reduce travel by private car. However, the plan proposes the implementation of a Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) on the Saintfield Road together with a park-and-ride site at Cairnshill for 750 spaces. Initially the Park and Ride site will be served by a dedicated bus service using the QBC bus priority infrastructure, but with the opportunity for linking it in the longer term with a potential rapid transit scheme, known as SuperRoute. The Department plans to submit a planning application for the Park and Ride site in Spring 2006.
	The plan also proposes the implementation of a Route Management Strategy on the A24 from the Outer Ring Road (A55) to Ballynahinch that may contain a range of measures including:
	safety schemes;
	improved lighting;
	junction modification;
	signing and parking/stopping restrictions; and
	better enforcement of clearways.
	This route management strategy is currently ongoing to identify potential improvements.
	I should also advise that outside the plan period to 2015, it is proposed that a new road link is constructed between the A24 at Cairnshill and the A55 at Newtownbreda to provide relief to the existing A24 Saintfield Road and the A24/A55 outer ring junction. This will closely follow part of the alignment of 'SuperRoute' and it is proposed that both will be protected from development through the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investment in transport infrastructure schemes to support economic regeneration is being considered in Northern Ireland; what the schemes are; what the amount of public investment is; and when he expects decisions to be made.

Shaun Woodward: Focused on giving priority to those investments that promote economic growth, the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, unveiled on 14 December 2005, identifies some 2.5 billion of investment in transport infrastructure schemes in the 10 years to 2015. This includes 1.4 billion for strategic road improvements and 309 million on public transport capital works projects over the 10-year period covered by the strategy.
	A revised Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan is currently being prepared that will identify the programme of schemes that can be undertaken with this enhanced funding.
	Details of the major transportation infrastructure improvements already included in the roads programme have been placed in the Library.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been housed in (a) Greater London, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon and (c) Ruislip-Northwood constituency in each of the last seven years.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers directly supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by local authority. The most recent publication covering the fourth quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Asylum Seekers

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are supported in each local authority area.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the UK are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. The number of asylum seekers directly supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Local authority. The most recent publication covering the fourth quarter of 2005, and further historical publications are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on asylum seekers supported by NASS broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library of the House.

Biometric Passports (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision he has made for people in Gravesham to register for biometric passports.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service will begin issuing biometric passports, containing a microchip holding a copy of the facial image and personal details in the passport, in June this year. This will not change the way in which passport applications are made. People need only ensure that they follow the advice shown in the photograph guidance leaflet included in the passport application pack, before sending their applications in the normal way.
	The separate requirement for adults applying for their first individual passport to attend an interview to confirm identity is to be introduced from the last quarter of 2006.
	A network of locations for offices in which to carry out the interviews has been designed to provide the optimum balance between convenience and costs. The design took into account customer opinion surveys and consultations with county and regional authorities and was externally verified. It has resulted in a network of potential locations in which the average two way journey from home to interview office and back will be just under 25 miles and take just under 40 minutes. However, it is not yet possible to announce the potential locations because the procurement process for a premises contractor has not been finalised and the availability of premises has not been confirmed.
	Attendance to record fingerprints for passports is not currently expected to be necessary until 2009.

Cannabis

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his comments in an interview with Channel 4 on 17 January, what evidence he has received that use of cannabis has resulted in deaths; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: I was referring on 19 January to representations I have received as a constituency MP from families who believe that cannabis has been linked to psychosis that has resulted in a member of their families death.
	The Government have accepted the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) conclusion that cannabis can worsen mental health problems. The recent ACMD report on the links between cannabis and mental health said
	Cannabis is harmful and its consumption can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological hazards,
	although the ACMD added
	cannabis makes . . . only a small contribution to an individual's risk for developing schizophrenia.
	Several research studies (including Lincoln and McGorry, 1999) have shown that mental illness significantly increases the risk of suicide in the individual.
	I made clear in my statement to Parliament that cannabis is harmful and illegal and therefore I set out a package of policies and activity to reinforce this message. I have asked ACPO to draw up new guidelines on cannabis so that they and others can continue to drive down supply and increase support to those who need it.
	The key priorities of this campaign will be to deliver a large-scale education programme, strengthen services for misusers and crack down on cultivators and suppliers of cannabis.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality will answer the letter of 7 December 2005 from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on her constituent Mr. Ahmed Taha (Home Office ref: T1021789).

Tony McNulty: I wrote to the hon. Member on 1 March.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green of 2 November 2005, regarding a constituent, Mrs. Dennis (Home Office reference D1101020).

Tony McNulty: The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the hon. Member on 28 February.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice the Criminal Cases Review Commission gives to members of the public wishing to have a case considered by the Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Commission produces a range of literature and maintains a website which makes available to members of the public and potential applicants information on the role played by the Commission in reviewing convictions and sentences. An information pack has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Entertainment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 200405; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office does not record entertainment expenditure broken down into the four elements requested in the PQ.
	All expenditure of official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in the 'Government Accounting' procedures.
	The spend on entertainment for the Home Office for 200405 was 269,000.

Deportations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals with no legal right to be in the UK have been deported or returned voluntarily to their country of origin and subsequently refused entry to that country and permitted to return to the UK in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not available.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum issues are available on the Home Office research development and statistics website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Emergency Hoax Calls

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hoax calls were made to the emergency services and fire service in each of the last three years in (a) Bolton, (b) the North West and (c) England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of hoax calls received by the emergency services is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following table shows the number of malicious false fire alarms attended by the fire and rescue service (FRS) in each of the last three years in:
	(a) Greater Manchester FRS (Data for individual local authorities is not available. Bolton is within Greater Manchester FRS area);
	(b) North West region;
	(c)England.
	
		Malicious false fire alarm calls attended by Fire and Rescue Services 200204
		
			  2002(31) 2003(31) 2004 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester 5,740 5,268 4,572 
			 North West region 10,639 9,956 8,044 
			 England 54,109 47,010 39,139 
		
	
	(31) Including estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are on the home detention curfew scheme.

Fiona Mactaggart: According to the Prison Service IT system, there were 3,024 prisoners on the home detention curfew scheme on 24 February 2006.

Illegal Immigration

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to tackle illegal immigration in Cambridgeshire.

Tony McNulty: Immigration and Nationality Directorate is committed to working towards the Government target of removing more failed asylum seekers, on a monthly basis, than there are unfounded claims. Operations are also undertaken targeting those who are working here illegally.
	Operations are intelligence led. Any information received concerning the county of Cambridgeshire is considered according to priorities and operations set up as necessary.
	Enforcement and removal work for United Kingdom Immigration Service in Cambridgeshire is carried out by the St. Ives office which is also the HQ of the eastern region.
	All work is intelligence driven and in Cambridgeshire centres on failed asylum seeker identification and removal. In order to deal with this regular visits are conducted by staff from that office to private addresses and business premises. The region also conducts prosecutions of individuals and businesses where flagrant breaches are identified.
	The Immigration Service in Cambridgeshire work closely with the police and other Government Departments as well as the local business community to deal with breaches of the immigration rules.

National Offender Management Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether legislation will be needed to allow regional offender managers to commission and contract for probation services under the National Offender Management Service arrangements.

Fiona Mactaggart: Legislation would be needed to allow regional offender managers to contract with other providers for services currently delivered by probation boards.

Passports

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the possible link between UK passports lost in the post and (a) identity theft, (b) human trafficking and (c) international terrorism; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The extent to which UK passports reported lost in the post are used to facilitate identity theft is extremely difficult to establish because there is very little information in this area. However, as a result of concerns about the number of passports being reported lost in the post the UK Passport Service introduced a secure delivery service in February 2004. The secure delivery service provides for all new passports dispatched from UKPS to be taken to their destination by courier. As a result of the introduction of this service the number of UK passports being reported to UKPS as having been lost in the post has fallen dramatically.
	There is also much less potential for the current design of digital passport, if stolen, to be modified to carryfor examplea different name or photograph. This will be made still more improbable with the advent if the new biometric chip enabled passport, which is being introduced next year.
	Victims who are trafficked into the UK for purposes of exploitation frequently travel on genuine passports that have been falsified, or on forged passports. While no specific study has been done, there is unlikely to be a link to UK passports lost in the post. Most people entering the UK in this way would travel on a document from a country which closely mirrored their own in culture and language to minimise the chances of detection.
	Because of the relatively small number of UK passports reported as being lost in the post, we do not believe that there is a link between such passports and international terrorism.

Prisons

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) adult (i) male and (ii) female prison population and (b) (A) male and (B) female young offender institution populations in (1) England and Wales and (2) Kent were on the last date for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table from the Prison Service IT system provides figures on the prison population in both England and Wales and Kent, and gives separate figures for adults and young offenders.
	
		Population of prisons(32) and young offender institutions on 31 January 2006
		
			  Male Female Total 
		
		
			 England and Wales
			 Adults 61,301 3,876 65,177 
			 Young persons(33) 10,235 508 10,743 
			 Total 71,536 4,384 75,920 
			 
			 Kent (34)
			 Adults 3,298 251 3,549 
			 Young persons(33) 504 19 523 
			 Total 3,802 270 4,072 
		
	
	(32) Young persons are held in local prisons as well as in young offender and juvenile institutions.
	(33) Young persons are aged under 21 but include 21-year-old prisoners who were aged 20 or under at conviction who have not been reclassified as part of the adult population.
	(34) Prisons in Kent are: Blantyre House, Canterbury, Cookham Wood, Dover, East Sutton Park, Elmley, Maidstone, Rochester, Standford Hill.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on (a) prison and (b) young offender institution visits in the first week of a custodial sentence.

Fiona Mactaggart: It is a requirement that prisoners and young offenders are informed of their statutory right to a social visit on reception, as an integral part of the reception process. Subject to pressing operational factors, there is an expectation that such a visit should take place within 72 hours of their reception into custody. Prisoners and young offenders also have access to telephones and are entitled to a letter at public expense, on reception, as an additional means of communication.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many married prisoners were divorced in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on changes of marital state of prisoners whilst in custody is not routinely collected. The most recent survey that addresses this question directly is the National Prison Survey of 1991, The National Prison Survey 1991 by Tricia Dodd and Paul Hunter of Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, London: HMSO.
	The survey was based on a representative simple random sample of all prisoners except juveniles. This found that of prisoners who were married before imprisonment 22 per cent. were divorced or separated at the time of interview in custody.

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps are being taken by his Department to improve access to courses by prisoners serving in open prisons, with particular reference to assisting with travel costs;
	(2)  what funding is available for prisoners serving in open prisons wishing to undertake education or training courses outside the prison.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Green Paper 'Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment' published in December 2005 set out for consultation our plans to improve the learning and skills service for all offenders, including those held in open prisons.
	The Department for Education and Skills has allocated 60,000 in financial year 200506 to support travel and other costs for offenders in open prisons attending education or training outside the prison. This funding allows offenders access to mainstream post-16 education in further education colleges, with most offenders eligible to have their course costs met by the Learning and Skills Council as part of its responsibilities for planning and funding general post-16 learning.

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made to his Department's procurement procedures, as a result of the leaks in the roofs of X and Y blocks at HM Prison Spring Hill with particular reference to assigning national building contracts.

Fiona Mactaggart: No changes have been made to the Home Office's procurement procedures as a direct result of the roof leaks in the blocks at HMP Spring Hill. These type of blocks constructed at HMP Spring Hill and elsewhere on the prison estate were the only modular temporary units (MTUs) readily available for quick purchase and rapid construction to meet the then rapidly rising prison places need. The new Strategic Alliance Partnerships set up in 200304 with its updated procurement procedures will in future deal with the demands of high value projects with tight timescales across the prison estate. An improved modular design is being developed through these partnerships and no more units of the design used at HMP Spring Hill will be built.

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been provided by his Department for repairs to the roofs of X and Y blocks at HM Prison Spring Hill.

Fiona Mactaggart: No central funding has been provided. The suppliers (Elliott Redispace at HMP Spring Hill) are responsible for rectifying defects with the roofs as per the negotiated contract. There are currently ongoing discussions with the suppliers to carry out appropriate further roof repairs.

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rooms are not available for use as a result of roof leakage in X and Y blocks at HM's Prison Spring Hill.

Fiona Mactaggart: No rooms in either of these blocks are currently decommissioned as a result of leaking roofs. Local estate management in conjunction with the site health and safety officer are keeping the situation under review and will undertake a risk assessment as necessary to establish what further roof repairs may be required.

Prisons

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the contractor who built X and Y blocks at HM Prison Spring Hill on (a) leaking roofs and (b) other issues.

Fiona Mactaggart: National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Property Unit is engaged in ongoing discussions with Elliot Redispace, the suppliers of the blocks at HMP Spring Hill, to perform cyclical inspections of their modular temporary units across the public prison estate to identify any leakage or other problems and for them to then carry out the necessary repairs at no further cost to the Department.

Repatriation

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on (a) repatriation and (b) granting leave to remain for individuals who have been returned to their country of origin but refused entry to that country; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Failed immigration offenders whose country of origin has refused to accept them on removal and who have been returned to the UK will not be granted leave to enter or remain. If they are granted temporary admission further attempts to remove them will be made through re-documentation or the use of international instruments as appropriate.

Repatriation

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the failed repatriation and return to the UK of individuals who have been deported or left to return to their country of origin but have been refused entry to that country of origin has cost in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: There is no information on the number of people who have either been removed or deported as immigration offenders but rejected during transit or on arrival at their country of origin and are returned to the UK, therefore it is not possible to establish cost.